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Exophiala species in household environments and their antifungal resistance profile

Nahid Kondori1,2, Daniel Jaén-Luchoro3,4, Roger Karlsson3,4,5

  • 1Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 7193, 402 34, Gothenburg, Sweden. nahid.kondori@microbio.gu.se.

Scientific Reports
|July 31, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Black fungus Exophiala, a cause of various infections, was frequently detected in Swedish dishwashers. Exophiala dermatitidis was the most common species found, highlighting potential environmental reservoirs for this opportunistic pathogen.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Environmental microbiology
  • Infectious diseases

Background:

  • Exophiala fungi cause diverse infections, from superficial to invasive, affecting both immunocompromised and healthy individuals.
  • Exophiala species are common airway colonizers in cystic fibrosis patients, yet their environmental sources and transmission routes remain largely unknown.
  • Understanding the environmental prevalence of Exophiala is crucial for public health, particularly concerning potential reservoirs and transmission pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and prevalence of Exophiala species in indoor environments in Sweden.
  • To identify specific Exophiala species commonly found in these environments.
  • To characterize the in vitro antifungal susceptibility of isolated Exophiala strains.

Main Methods:

  • Sampling of indoor environments in Sweden.
  • Identification of Exophiala species using culture-based methods.
  • Antifungal susceptibility testing (MIC determination) against various antifungal agents.
  • Phenotypic characterization of isolates, including growth at 42°C and catalase activity.

Main Results:

  • Exophiala species were frequently detected in dishwasher samples.
  • Exophiala dermatitidis was the most prevalent species, identified in 70% of positive samples.
  • Nearly all E. dermatitidis isolates demonstrated growth at 42°C and were catalase-positive.
  • Voriconazole and posaconazole showed the lowest minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) in vitro, while echinocandins (caspofungin, anidulafungin) lacked significant antifungal activity.

Conclusions:

  • Dishwashers may serve as a significant environmental reservoir for Exophiala species, including Exophiala dermatitidis.
  • The high prevalence and specific characteristics of E. dermatitidis isolates suggest adaptation to certain environmental conditions.
  • Further research is required to elucidate the transmission dynamics of Exophiala from environmental sources to humans.
Keywords:
Exophiala dermatitidisBlack fungiFilamentous fungiIndoor environments

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