Browsing by Author "Francisco, M."
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- Aspergillus nosocomial infections: do cryptic species found in hospital environment matter?Publication . Sabino, Raquel; Viegas, Carla; Veríssimo, Carla; Francisco, M.; Martins, C.; Clemons, K. V.; Stevens, D. A.Purpose - Aspergillus is a major threat causing nosocomial infections in immunocompromised patients, especially those subjected to transplantation. Until recently, species identification relief on morphological features. Advances in molecular methods allowed species identification through sequencing of specific genes, allowing high discrimination amongst isolates, which enables the genetic differentiation to species level of morphologically identical isolates. These are the so-called cryptic or sibling species. Different Aspergillus species have different susceptibilities to antifungals and several cryptic species have been described as less susceptible to specific antifungals. Therefore, we addressed the possible influence of hospital environmental isolates in the overall situation of Aspergillus antifungal resistance.
- Aspergillus section Fumigati – Epidemiological trends: a perspective from a National Reference LaboratoryPublication . Sabino, Raquel; Simões, H.; Francisco, M.; Viegas, Carla; Toscano, C.; Batista, J.; Ferreira, T.; Veríssimo, CarlaAspergillus species have emerged as an important cause of life-threatening infections in immunocompromised patients. Aspergillus fumigatus is the most frequent agent of aspergillosis and reports on infections caused by this species or its siblings are becoming more frequent, together with the increasing number of at-risk patients. Nowadays, due to the rising concerns about emerging antifungal resistance, the epidemiological surveillance for clinical and environmental isolates is mandatory. The overall objective of the project is to understand the epidemiology of the Aspergillus isolates (species and antifungal resistance) collected in the Portuguese National Reference Laboratory through our surveillance system on Aspergillus.