Purpureocillium lilacinum an emergent pathogen: antifungal susceptibility of environmental and clinical strains

• Published in: Letters in applied microbiology Vol. 75; no. 1; pp. 45 - 50
• Main Authors: Corrêa‐Moreira, D., Lima Neto, R.G., Costa, G.L., Moraes Borba, C., Oliveira, M.M.E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01.07.2022
• Subjects: Antifungal activity; antifungal susceptibility; Biological control; Caspofungin; clinical strains; COVID-19; Echinocandins; emerging fungi; environmental strain; Fungi; Fungicides; In vivo methods and tests; Insects; Nematodes; Opportunist infection; Pathogens; Purpureocillium lilacinum; Voriconazole; emerging fungi; Purpureocillium lilacinum; antifungal susceptibility; environmental strain; clinical strains
• ISSN: 0266-8254; 1472-765X
• DOI: 10.1111/lam.13707

Purpureocillium lilacinum is a filamentous and hyaline fungus cosmopolitan, saprophytic, largely used in the biological control of plant‐parasitic nematodes and insects, also considered an emerging and opportunistic human pathogen. The standard treatment for hyalohyphomycosis caused by P. lilacinum is not yet defined, since this fungus is resistant to different antifungals, in vitro and in vivo. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare in vitro antifungal activity against environmental and clinical P. lilacinum isolates and our results demonstrated that these isolates can be resistant to newer generation triazoles, such as voriconazole, and to caspofungin, a drug of the echinocandin class. In summary, we highlight the importance of knowing the different susceptibility profiles of P. lilacinum isolates, and besides that, the emergence of uncommon human and animal opportunistic fungi, such P. lilacinum, especially during COVID‐19, highlight the need for antifungal susceptibility testing of isolates since empirical therapy with different treatment schedules failed in great number of patients. Significance and Impact of the Study: Studies on antifungal resistance are of dire need as part of the one health approach. The emergence of opportunistic fungi, such as P. lilacinum, especially during COVID‐19, highlights the need for antifungal susceptibility testing of isolates, since several clinical case reports report therapeutic failure with various treatment regimens. Therefore, we proposed to know the different susceptibility profiles of some P. lilacinum isolates, clinical and environmental, in order to raise awareness of workers who directly handle isolates considered to be non‐pathogenic and beneficial, of the risks of contamination and the possible difficulty in choosing the best treatment.