One of the greatest threats to hospitalized patients is the acquisition of healthcare-associated infections. The risks of morbidity and mortality increase significantly in affected patients for two main reasons: (1) The pathogen has adapted to the hostile hospital environment due to frequent exposure to antimicrobials and disinfectants. (2) The patient is often immunocompromised. Bacteria are the most prevalent causative agents of healthcare-associated infections followed by fungi. However, treatment of fungal infections is more complex. Fungi are eukaryotic organisms sharing high levels of gene orthology with humans which limits the number of non-cytotoxic antifungal agents available for treatment.
In healthcare settings, patients can develop serious fungal infections either when opportunistic fungi that are part of their normal microbiota, such as Candida albicans, turn pathogenic or by acquiring the infection through contact with contaminated medical equipment or medical personnel. Often, nosocomial fungi are more resistant to antifungal agents and/or more virulent. The goal of the research topic "insight into healthcare-associated fungal infections" is to address the virulence and resistance mechanisms that render nosocomial fungi more life-threatening. Understanding those aspects of healthcare-associated fungal infections is crucial for optimizing prevention and treatment plans.
This research topic will evaluate the virulence and antifungal resistance mechanisms in nosocomial fungi. Research on any fungal species that can act as a nosocomial pathogen is welcome, though priority will be given to fungi of the Candida genus, notably non albicans Candida whose prevalence and rate of isolation is on the rise. Original research, systematic reviews, reviews, mini reviews, and brief research reports covering; but not limited to, the following themes are taken into consideration:
* Describing clinical findings related to nosocomial fungal infections.
* Studying genes, gene mutations, and proteins involved in virulence or antifungal resistance in pathogenic fungi isolated from hospitalized patients or medical devices.
* Evaluating phenotypes that are correlated to virulence and antifungal resistance such as biofilm formation.
* Examining interaction of nosocomial fungi with human cells.
* Simulating and inducing antifungal resistance development in vitro.
* Discriminating between resistance, heteroresistance, and tolerance.
* Assessing strain clonality and phylogeny of isolates to address outbreaks.
* Assessing chronic fungal infections and microevolution of strains within the same host.
Keywords:
Pathogenic fungi, Nosocomial fungi, Healthcare-associated infections, Antifungal resistance, Virulence
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
One of the greatest threats to hospitalized patients is the acquisition of healthcare-associated infections. The risks of morbidity and mortality increase significantly in affected patients for two main reasons: (1) The pathogen has adapted to the hostile hospital environment due to frequent exposure to antimicrobials and disinfectants. (2) The patient is often immunocompromised. Bacteria are the most prevalent causative agents of healthcare-associated infections followed by fungi. However, treatment of fungal infections is more complex. Fungi are eukaryotic organisms sharing high levels of gene orthology with humans which limits the number of non-cytotoxic antifungal agents available for treatment.
In healthcare settings, patients can develop serious fungal infections either when opportunistic fungi that are part of their normal microbiota, such as Candida albicans, turn pathogenic or by acquiring the infection through contact with contaminated medical equipment or medical personnel. Often, nosocomial fungi are more resistant to antifungal agents and/or more virulent. The goal of the research topic "insight into healthcare-associated fungal infections" is to address the virulence and resistance mechanisms that render nosocomial fungi more life-threatening. Understanding those aspects of healthcare-associated fungal infections is crucial for optimizing prevention and treatment plans.
This research topic will evaluate the virulence and antifungal resistance mechanisms in nosocomial fungi. Research on any fungal species that can act as a nosocomial pathogen is welcome, though priority will be given to fungi of the Candida genus, notably non albicans Candida whose prevalence and rate of isolation is on the rise. Original research, systematic reviews, reviews, mini reviews, and brief research reports covering; but not limited to, the following themes are taken into consideration:
* Describing clinical findings related to nosocomial fungal infections.
* Studying genes, gene mutations, and proteins involved in virulence or antifungal resistance in pathogenic fungi isolated from hospitalized patients or medical devices.
* Evaluating phenotypes that are correlated to virulence and antifungal resistance such as biofilm formation.
* Examining interaction of nosocomial fungi with human cells.
* Simulating and inducing antifungal resistance development in vitro.
* Discriminating between resistance, heteroresistance, and tolerance.
* Assessing strain clonality and phylogeny of isolates to address outbreaks.
* Assessing chronic fungal infections and microevolution of strains within the same host.
Keywords:
Pathogenic fungi, Nosocomial fungi, Healthcare-associated infections, Antifungal resistance, Virulence
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.