title: [Opportunistic yeast infections and enzymatic profile of the etiological agents].
abstract: Yeast infections are common in immunocompromised patients, although emerging species have been changing the epidemiological profile. The ability to secrete proteinases has been associated with pathogenicity within the genus Candida. This study had the aims of diagnosing yeast infections in immunocompromised patients and evaluating the virulence of the etiological agents, based on a proteinase secretion assay using bovine serum albumin as a substrate. Out of a total of 104 patients studied, 19 presented episodes of yeast infection. The respiratory tract (63.2%), followed by the urinary tract (10.5%), were the most common sites of infection. Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis and emerging species such as Candida krusei and Candida guilliermondii were isolated. Five isolates of Candida parapsilosis and one of Candida albicans and Candida guilliermondii exhibited high enzymatic activity. We conclude that enzymatic characterization of Candida isolates may be a useful prognostic marker, especially among immunocompromised individuals, since yeast infections in such patients are generally serious.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Micologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE.
authors.forename: Danielle Patrícia Cerqueira
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Macêdo
authors.forename: Aline Mary de Almeida
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Farias
authors.forename: Reginaldo Gonçalves de
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Lima Neto
authors.forename: Vanessa Karina Alves da
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: André Ferraz Goiana
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Leal
authors.forename: Rejane Pereira
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Neves
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D002417:Cattle; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014774:Virulence; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010447:Peptide Hydrolases