EPIDEMIOLOGY AND CONTROL OF NOSOCOMIAL FUNGAL-INFECTIONS

Fungal infections present a new challenge to infection-control personn el. The investigation of recent outbreaks of candidiasis and aspergill osis suggests that the epidemiology of these infections is more compli cated than previously thought. The application of more discriminatory genetic-typing systems to the study of outbreak strains has helped in this process. Evidence for both endogenous and exogenous acquisition o f fungal pathogens requires preventive strategies that incorporate bot h chemoprophylaxis and standard infection-control practices such as ha nd-washing. The role of sophisticated and expensive air-handling syste ms on transplant units needs a critical reappraisal.