title: Update from the Laboratory: Clinical Identification and Susceptibility Testing of Fungi and Trends in Antifungal Resistance.
abstract: Despite the availability of new diagnostic assays and broad-spectrum antifungal agents, invasive fungal infections remain a significant challenge to clinicians and are associated with marked morbidity and mortality. In addition, the number of etiologic agents of invasive mycoses has increased accompanied by an expansion in the immunocompromised patient populations, and the use of molecular tools for fungal identification and characterization has resulted in the discovery of several cryptic species. This article reviews various methods used to identify fungi and perform antifungal susceptibility testing in the clinical laboratory. Recent developments in antifungal resistance are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Fungus Testing Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
authors.forename: Mohammad T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Albataineh
authors.affiliation: Fungus Testing Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
authors.forename: Deanna A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.affiliation: Fungus Testing Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
authors.forename: Annette W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Fothergill
authors.affiliation: Fungus Testing Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. Electronic address: wiederholdn@uthscsa.edu.
authors.forename: Nathan P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Wiederhold
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal / Q000502:physiology*; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009181:Mycoses / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents
keywords: Antifungal resistance; Antifungal susceptibility testing; Fungal identification