One of the greatest threats to hospitalized patients is the acquisition of nosocomial infections. The risks of morbidity and mortality increase significantly in affected patients for two main reasons: (1) The pathogen has adapted to the hostile hospital environment due to frequent exposure to antimicrobials and disinfectants. (2) The patient is often immunocompromised. Bacteria are the most common causative agents of nosocomial infections, followed by fungi. However, the treatment of fungal infections is more complex. Fungi are eukaryotic organisms sharing high levels of genetic orthology with humans, which limits the number of non-cytotoxic antifungal agents available for treatment.

In healthcare settings, patients can develop serious fungal infections either when opportunistic fungi that are part of their normal microbiota, such as Candida albicans, become pathogenic or by acquiring the infection through contact with medical equipment or contaminated medical personnel. Often, nosocomial fungi are more resistant to antifungal agents and/or more virulent. The aim of the research theme “Overview of nosocomial fungal infections” is to address the virulence and resistance mechanisms that make nosocomial fungi more dangerous to life. Understanding these aspects of nosocomial fungal infections is crucial to optimize prevention and treatment plans.

This research topic will evaluate virulence and antifungal resistance mechanisms in nosocomial fungi. Research on any fungal species that can act as a nosocomial pathogen is welcome, although priority will be given to fungi of the Candida genus, particularly Candida non albicans, the prevalence and isolation rate of which are increasing. Original research, systematic reviews, reviews, mini-reviews and brief research reports covering: but not limited to, the following topics are considered:

* Describe clinical findings related to nosocomial fungal infections.

* Study genes, genetic mutations and proteins involved in virulence or antifungal resistance in pathogenic fungi isolated from hospitalized patients or medical devices.

* Evaluate phenotypes correlated with virulence and antifungal resistance such as biofilm formation.

* Examination of the interaction of nosocomial fungi with human cells.

* Simulate and induce the development of antifungal resistance in vitro.

* Discrimination between resistance, heteroresistance and tolerance.

* Evaluation of the clonality of strains and the phylogeny of isolates to deal with epidemics.

* Evaluation of chronic fungal infections and microevolution of strains within the same host.

Keywords: Pathogenic fungi, Nosocomial fungi, Nosocomial infections, Resistance to antifungals, Virulence

Important note: All contributions to this research topic must fall within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more appropriate section or journal at any stage of peer review.

One of the greatest threats to hospitalized patients is the acquisition of nosocomial infections. The risks of morbidity and mortality increase significantly in affected patients for two main reasons: (1) The pathogen has adapted to the hostile hospital environment due to frequent exposure to antimicrobials and disinfectants. (2) The patient is often immunocompromised. Bacteria are the most common causative agents of nosocomial infections, followed by fungi. However, the treatment of fungal infections is more complex. Fungi are eukaryotic organisms sharing high levels of genetic orthology with humans, which limits the number of non-cytotoxic antifungal agents available for treatment.

In healthcare settings, patients can develop serious fungal infections either when opportunistic fungi that are part of their normal microbiota, such as Candida albicans, become pathogenic or by acquiring the infection through contact with medical equipment or contaminated medical personnel. Often, nosocomial fungi are more resistant to antifungal agents and/or more virulent. The aim of the research theme “Overview of nosocomial fungal infections” is to address the virulence and resistance mechanisms that make nosocomial fungi more dangerous to life. Understanding these aspects of nosocomial fungal infections is crucial to optimize prevention and treatment plans.

This research topic will evaluate virulence and antifungal resistance mechanisms in nosocomial fungi. Research on any fungal species that can act as a nosocomial pathogen is welcome, although priority will be given to fungi of the Candida genus, particularly Candida non albicans, the prevalence and isolation rate of which are increasing. Original research, systematic reviews, reviews, mini-reviews and brief research reports covering: but not limited to, the following topics are considered:

* Describe clinical findings related to nosocomial fungal infections.

* Study genes, genetic mutations and proteins involved in virulence or antifungal resistance in pathogenic fungi isolated from hospitalized patients or medical devices.

* Evaluate phenotypes correlated with virulence and antifungal resistance such as biofilm formation.

* Examination of the interaction of nosocomial fungi with human cells.

* Simulate and induce the development of antifungal resistance in vitro.

* Discrimination between resistance, heteroresistance and tolerance.

* Evaluation of the clonality of strains and the phylogeny of isolates to deal with epidemics.

* Evaluation of chronic fungal infections and microevolution of strains within the same host.

Keywords: Pathogenic fungi, Nosocomial fungi, Nosocomial infections, Resistance to antifungals, Virulence

Important note: All contributions to this research topic must fall within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more appropriate section or journal at any stage of peer review.