An overview of fungal infections

The incidence of fungal infections is increasing at an alarming rate, prese nting an enormous challenge to healthcare professionals. This increase is d irectly related to the growing population of immunocompromised individuals, resulting from changes in medical practice such as the use of intensive ch emotherapy and immunosuppressive drugs. HIV and other diseases which cause immunosuppression have also contributed to this problem. Superficial and subcutaneous fungal infections affect the skin, keratinous tissues and mucous membranes. Included in this class are some of the most f requently occurring skin diseases, affecting millions of people worldwide. Although rarely life threatening, they can have debilitating effects on a p erson's quality of life and may in some circumstances spread to other indiv iduals or become invasive. Most superficial and subcutaneous fungal infecti ons are easily diagnosed and readily amenable to treatment. Systemic fungal infections may be caused by either an opportunistic organis m that infects an at-risk host, or may be associated with a more invasive o rganism that is endemic to a specific geographical area. Systemic infection s can be life threatening and are associated with high morbidity and mortal ity. Because diagnosis is difficult and the causative agent is often confir med only at autopsy, the exact incidence of systemic infections is difficul t to determine. The most frequently encountered pathogens are Candida albic ans and Aspergillus spp. but other fungi such as non-albicans Candida spp. are increasingly important.