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Invasive fungal infections: a review of epidemiology and management options.

Enoch DA, Ludlam HA, Brown NM

Clinical Microbiology and Public Health Laboratory, Health Protection Agency, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QW, UK. david.enoch@addenbrookes.nhs.uk

Fungi are increasingly recognised as major pathogens in critically ill patients. Candida spp. and Cryptococcus spp. are the yeasts most frequently isolated in clinical practice. The most frequent filamentous fungi (moulds) isolated are Aspergillus spp., but Fusarium spp., Scedosporium spp., Penicillium spp., and Zygomycetes are increasingly seen. Several reasons have been proposed for the increase in invasive fungal infections, including the use of antineoplastic and immunosuppressive agents, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and prosthetic devices and grafts, and more aggressive surgery. Patients with burns, neutropenia, HIV infection and pancreatitis are also predisposed to fungal infection. The epidemiology and clinical features of fungal infections are reviewed, together with antifungal agents currently or soon to be available.

Published 14 June 2006 in J Med Microbiol, 55: 809-18.
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