title: Updates on Aspergillus, Pneumocystis and other opportunistic pulmonary mycoses.
abstract: Mycoses are serious diseases with potentially fatal outcome. The introduction of immunosuppressive treatments and life support techniques has led to a growing prevalence of different degrees of immunosuppression. Compromised immune response is the primary risk factor for the development of opportunistic mycoses. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for improving prognosis. However, isolation in cultures or identification using antigen detection techniques cannot distinguish between colonization and invasive infection, and the clinical status of the patient often prevents biopsy sampling. Clinicians thus find themselves in an uncertain position, requiring them to quickly recognize clinical and radiological signs and interpret microbiological results in context. The aim of this review is to provide a general overview of the profile of patients susceptible to these infections, the role of the immune system and, in more detail, the major diagnostic developments that have gained most acceptance and recognition among the scientific community.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Instituto Princesa de Investigación IIS-IP, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Curbelo
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Instituto Princesa de Investigación IIS-IP, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Jose María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Galván
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumología, Instituto Princesa de Investigación IIS-IP, Madrid, España. Electronic address: jaspa@separ.es.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aspa
mesh_terms: D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D009091:Mucormycosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D055732:Pulmonary Aspergillosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology
keywords: Aspergillus; Aspergilosis pulmonar invasiva; Cryptococcus; Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis; Micosis pulmonares oportunistas; Mucormicosis; Mucormycosis; Opportunistic pulmonary mycoses; Pneumocystis jirovecii