title: Emerging opportunistic fungal infections: where are we heading?
abstract: Medical mycology involves the study of pathogenic fungi and their identification in the laboratory. Mycology has developed into a field that demands the attention of all clinicians treating patients in hospitals. Interest in medical mycology has grown in recent years due to a dramatic rise in the rates of fungal infections. An overview of well-known medically significant opportunistic fungi, such as Candida, Cryptococcus, Aspergillus and Zygomycetes, as well as emerging fungal pathogens, are discussed. Antifungal failures in these individuals are high; consequently, mortality rates are also high, despite standard therapy with amphotericin-B, lipid-associated formulation of amphotericin-B and the azoles. This underscores the need for new approaches and therapies to improve outcomes in high-risk individuals.
authors.affiliation: idemyor@juno.com
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Idemyor
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009181:Mycoses / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents