To the problem of secondary mycotic infections and their etiological agents

Modern therapeutic procedures that are based on advanced chemotherapy and modern medical technique have led to a prolongation of chronic patient's survival, but have also created conditions for the development of till now little known infectious complications. Among these are, no doubt, mycotic diseases caused by opportunistic microorganisms. Primarily apathogenic fungi, living as a rule in the external environment as saprophytes or colonizing as harmless epiphytes the integumental localizations of healthy humans, start to behave in the subjects with reduced resistance as invasive pathogens. The authors summarize pertinent information of most important systemic mycotic infections of this nature, which occur on the territory of Czechoslovakia: candidiasis, aspergillosis, phycomycosis, cryptococcosis and nocardiosis. Considering the mycological, ecological and pathophysiological aspects of these infections, the authors try to elucidate not only theoretical principles of the etiological agents' opportunism, but also practical impacts of the sustained increase in the number of these diseases. Apart from data on the extrahuman existence of these microorganisms, the authors provide characteristics of the most important pathogenetic mechanisms facilitating their paratrophic propagation. Since the basic conditions of the onset of complications caused by the opportunistic mycotic agents are in principle complied with in almost every hospitalized patient, emphasis is put particularly on factors leading to iatrogenic lesions. Constant close cooperation between the attending physician and microbiologist is considered as one of the basic preconditions for a successful therapeutical control of these pathological conditions.