Related Experiment Videos
[Invasive fungal infection in 3447 autopsy cases]
1Department of Critical Care Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing.
Objective:
To evaluate the prevalence of invasive fungal infection at autopsy.
Method:
To retrospectively analyse 3447 autopsy cases in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 1953 to 1993.
Results:
There were 85 cases of invasive fungal infection at autopsy among 3447 cases. The prevalence steadily increased, especially during the recent 20 years. Among the 85 cases, only 5 patients were diagnosed clinically (5.9%). The primary diseases were mainly leukemia, cancer, and sepsis. Lung was involved in 70% of the cases, and 85% of the pathogens were fungi.
Conclusions:
Fungus has become a major pathogen in nosocomial infection. The prophylactic use of antifungal agents is recommended in high-risk patients because of the difficulty to establish the clinical diagnosis of invasive fungal infection.
Insights
Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are increasingly prevalent at autopsy, with only a small percentage diagnosed clinically. Prophylactic antifungal use is recommended for high-risk patients due to diagnostic challenges.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pathology
Context:
- Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) pose a significant challenge in clinical settings.
- Autopsy studies provide crucial data on the true prevalence of IFIs.
Purpose:
- To determine the autopsy prevalence of invasive fungal infections.
- To analyze trends and associated factors of IFIs over a 40-year period.
Summary:
- A retrospective analysis of 3447 autopsies revealed 85 cases of IFIs, showing a steady increase over time.
- Lung was the most common site of infection (70%).
- Clinical diagnosis was achieved in only 5.9% of cases, with leukemia, cancer, and sepsis as primary conditions.
Impact:
- Fungal pathogens are a growing concern in nosocomial infections.
- Highlights the critical need for early diagnosis and prophylactic antifungal strategies in at-risk populations.