title: Fungal meningitis.
abstract: Fungi provide many benefits to humans. However, some of these fungi have the ability to become human pathogens. All the major fungal pathogens can produce meningitis. From the common cryptococcal meningitis to the rare fungal meningitis caused by a dimorphic or filamentous fungus, medical issues are discussed in this review on a fungus-specific basis. Both primary (Cryptococcus, Blastomyces, Histoplasma, Coccidioides, and other dimorphic fungi) and secondary (Aspergillus, Candida, and a series of molds) fungal pathogens can produce life-threatening central nervous system infections. These infections require immediate and precise diagnosis and carefully selected management strategies to optimize outcomes. In this review, we examine the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and treatment for fungal meningitis in all the major fungal groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gottfredsson
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Perfect
mesh_terms: D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D003045:Coccidioides / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D005670:Fusarium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D005843:Geography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006658:Histoplasma / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016921:Meningitis, Fungal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D010407:Penicillium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D011541:Pseudallescheria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D012233:Rhizopus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D013175:Sporothrix / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology