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Publication
Opportunist Coinfections by Nontuberculous Mycobacteria and Fungi in Immunocompromised Patients
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Authors
Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and many fungal species (spp.) are commonly
associated with opportunistic infections (OPIs) in immunocompromised individuals. Moreover,
occurrence of concomitant infection by NTM (mainly spp. of Mycobacterium avium complex and
Mycobacterium abscessus complex) and fungal spp. (mainly, Aspergillus fumigatus, Histoplasma
capsulatum and Cryptococcus neoformans) is very challenging and is associated with poor patient
prognosis. The most frequent clinical symptoms for coinfection and infection by single agents (fungi
or NTM) are similar. For this reason, the accurate identification of the aetiological agent(s) is crucial
to select the best treatment approach. Despite the significance of this topic it has not been sufficiently
addressed in the literature. This review aims at summarizing case reports and studies on NTM and
fungi coinfection during the last 20 years. In addition, it briefly characterizes OPIs and coinfection,
describes key features of opportunistic pathogens (e.g., NTM and fungi) and human host
predisposing conditions to OPIs onset and outcome. The review could interest a wide spectrum of
audiences, including medical doctors and scientists, to improve awareness of these infections,
leading to early identification in clinical settings and increasing research in the field. Improved
diagnosis and availability of therapeutic options might contribute to improve the prognosis of
patients’ survival.
Description
Review
Keywords
Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) Coinfection Aspergillus Histoplasma capsulatum Cryptococcus Neoformans HIV/AIDS Immunosuppression Opportunistic Infections Infecções Respiratórias
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Antibiotics (Basel). 2020 Nov 2;9(11):771. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics9110771
Publisher
MDPI