Fungal pathogens: an overview

Of all the classes of infectious agents--bacteria, viruses, parasites, worms and prions--fungi are perhaps the last to come to mind and the least understood by most health care providers. Although they rarely cause fatal disease, fungi can cause significant injury and illness. Fungal infections are both difficult to prevent and difficult to treat. In addition, fungal infections are likely to become more common because of the ongoing human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic, the aging population and the growth of treatments that alter patients' immune status. This review introduces fungi, the infections they cause, the risk factors involved, diagnosis and treatment. This article is a Directed Reading. Your access to Directed Reading quizzes for continuing education credit is determined by your continuing education preference. For access to other quizzes, go to www.asrt.org/store.