[Diagnosis of systemic mycotic infections]

The diagnosis of mycotic infections still remains a serious problem. The clinical picture lacks specific manifestations, usually it does not differ substantially from bacterial infections. Routine laboratory examinations are only of subsidiary importance and even more specific methods (assessment of antibodies, and in particular detection of mycotic antigens) do not meet expectations so far. To establish the diagnosis of systemic mycosis it is thus most important to consider the possibility and to support clinical suspicion by an aimed examination.