While yeasts such as Candida albicans belong to the ascomycetous fungi, a well-known member of the filamentous group is the mould Aspergillus brasiliensis (formerly known as: Aspergillus niger). This mould can occasionally cause a respiratory infection - known as aspergillosis - in immunocompromised individuals [1, 2]. There are differences between ascomycetes and filamentous fungi not only in the structure of the cell wall, but also in the fact that ascomycetes reproduce or spread by germination and filamentous fungi by spores. [1, 2]. But what about the efficacy of disinfectants against these fungi and their spores? Fungicidal disinfectants are effective against all fungi, yeasticidal only against yeasts Disinfectants labelled „fungicidal“ are effective against both yeasts and filamentous fungi and their spores. In contrast, yeasticidal disinfectants only kill yeasts. The term „sporicidal“ References 1. Russell AD (2003): J Antimicrob Chemother 52: 750-763. https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkg422 2. Ewig S et al. (2018): Erreger. In: Pneumonie unter Immunsuppression. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-55741-9_56 3. DIN EN 14885:2023-07 Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics - Application of European Standards for chemical disinfectants and antiseptics; German version EN 14885:2022 + AC:2023 occasionally causes further confusion. Contrary to what the name suggests, this is not a disinfectant against fungal spores, but one that is effective against bacterial spores such as those of Clostridioides difficile. The term yeasticidal was first used in Europe in 2006 in EN 14885 (Application of European Standards for Chemical Disinfectants and Antiseptics) to describe efficacy against yeasts only. Over the years, the distinction between efficacy against yeasts (yeasticidal) and against yeasts and moulds (fungicidal) has become established as a claim for all disinfectants [3]. Fungicidal versus yeasticidal efficacies What do these differences mean in practice? In order to understand the efficacy of disinfectants against fungi, it is necessary to look at the fungi themselves. One thing is certain: not all fungi are the same. Medically important fungi can be broadly divided into ascomycetous and filamentous fungi Fungicidal: effective against yeasts AND moulds (+ fungal spores) Yeasticidal: only effectiv against yeasts Aspergillus brasiliensis Candida albicans Sporicidal: only effectiv against bacterial spores C. difficile KNOWLEDGE 29
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