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Bio-energetics Investigation of Candida albicans Using Real-time Extracellular Flux Analysis
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Fungal infections of the central nervous system

Claire S Jacobs1, Mark R Etherton, Jennifer L Lyons

  • 1Departments of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Current Infectious Disease Reports
|October 29, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Central nervous system fungal infections vary widely based on host and pathogen factors. This review covers the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of these infections, even in immunocompetent individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Mycology

Background:

  • Fungal infections of the central nervous system (CNS) present diverse clinical manifestations.
  • While immunocompromised individuals are at increased risk, certain fungi can infect even healthy hosts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of CNS fungal infections.
  • To detail the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic approaches, and management strategies for various fungal CNS pathogens.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of fungal CNS infections.
  • Synthesis of information on epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment.

Main Results:

  • Fungal CNS infections exhibit varied presentations influenced by host immunity and fungal species.
  • Primary fungal pathogens can cause severe CNS disease in immunocompetent hosts.
  • Effective diagnosis and management are crucial for patient outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding the diverse nature of fungal CNS infections is essential for timely diagnosis and treatment.
  • Management strategies must be tailored to the specific fungal pathogen and host immune status.
  • Further research into novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches is warranted.

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