Virulence and antifungal therapy of murine disseminated infection by Rhodotorula mucilaginosa

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2017 Sep;89(1):47-51. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2017.06.005. Epub 2017 Jun 16.

Abstract

Rhodotorula infections have emerged in recent years causing mainly fungemia associated to high mortality. We have evaluated the in vitro activity of nine antifungal drugs against four clinical strains of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, being amphotericin B, voriconazole and posaconazole the most active compounds. The experimental virulence of this fungus and the efficacy of the three mentioned drugs were evaluated in disseminated infections in neutropenic mice. Infection resulted in a high fungal load in all the organs studied without evident particular tropism. All treated animals showed reduced burden respect to the control in a strain dependent manner being voriconazole slightly superior to posaconazole and amphotericin B.

Keywords: Antifungal susceptibility; Rhodotorula mucilaginosa; Therapy; Virulence.

MeSH terms

  • Animal Structures / microbiology
  • Animals
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mycoses / drug therapy*
  • Mycoses / microbiology
  • Mycoses / pathology*
  • Rhodotorula / drug effects*
  • Rhodotorula / pathogenicity*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Virulence

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents