Opportunistic Mycoses

Opportunistic Mycoses

1. Infections due to fungi with low inherent virulence

2. Has increased significantly over the past two decades

   • Due to increase in patient populations at risk e.g immunocompromised

3. Etiological agents

   • Candida albicans
   • Cryptococcus neoformans
   • Aspergillus fumigatus
   • A growing list of 'other' opportunistic fungi

4. Infections range from catheter-related fungemia to more localised infections to widespread hematogenous dissemination

5. Pose considerable challenge in diagnostic and therapeutic given the comlpexity of patients at risk and diverse array of fungal pathogens

6. Isolation and identification is important as some some organisms are inherently nonsusceptible to standard antifungals