Infections of opportunistic fungi and the antimycotic effect of Chinese Herb

Lin Yuanzhu

Objective:

To study the new type of the candidiasis, the new causative fungi of opportunistic mycotic infection and the antifungal effect of Chinese herb.

Method:

In a retrospective study, the clinical data were collected from our outpatients since 1975 to 2001. The laboratory examinations included the observation by electron microscope, in vitro and animal experiments.

Results:

1.  We found 40 patients with infantile candidiasis capitis, whose hair was destroyed by candida albicans under the scanning electron microscope(SEM). In vitro, the younger the hair was infected, the severer the infection was.

2.   The phaeohyphomycosis may be caused by chaetomium murorum.

3.   The Pichia farinose may cause papule type of cutaneous infection of infant. The patient, a 16-month-old baby, affected by cutaneous infection was cured by terbinifine. After one year, the chronic mucocutaneous candidosis relapsed, because a large quantity of antibiotic was applied to him for his upper respiratory tract infection. At the end, the patient died of candida infection of pulmonary.

4.   The turmeric oil had good antimycotic action in vitro.

Conclusion:

Candida albicans are able to infect hair. Pichia farinose may lead to cutaneous infection of infant and the phaeohyphomycosis may be caused by chaetomium murorum. The discoveries of abovementioned were first reported in the world literature. These discoveries may be helpful more or less for the treatment and prevention of opportunistic mycotic infection. The turmeric oil had good antifungal effect on T.mentagrophyte in vitro. The further study is needed.

Key words:

Opportunistic mycotic infection; Candida, Chaetomicum murorum; Pichia farinose; Turmeric oil.