Clinical characteristics, susceptibility profiles, and outcomes of infection with Alternaria species: A 14-year retrospective study.

Posaconazole and surgery effectively manage Alternaria spp. infections in immunocompromised adults, with 52% of patients receiving oral therapy and 52% undergoing surgery.

• Why it matters: Alternaria spp. cause serious opportunistic infections that are difficult to identify and treat, especially in immunocompromised hosts, highlighting the need for clearer treatment guidelines.
• What they did: A 14-year retrospective review analyzed 41 isolates, antifungal susceptibilities, clinical features, and outcomes, focusing on MIC and MEC data for various antifungal agents.
• The result: The study found posaconazole to be the most frequently used antifungal, with favorable susceptibility profiles, and emphasized the necessity for interpretive criteria to optimize empiric and targeted therapy.