fungal infections

Fungal infections are called mycoses. Fungi are eukaryotes that grow predominantly by budding (yeasts) or by filamentous extensions called hyphae (molds).

The distinction between yeasts and molds is not absolute and is based on the usual morphology of the organism. Some fungi, such as Candida albicans, tend to grow predominantly as yeast but may also form hyphae.

Dimorphic fungi have both a yeast form (at human body temperature) and a mold form (at room temperature). Some of the fungi that can cause disseminated disease are discussed below. Others are discussed in other chapters, depending on the primary organ involved.

Types

 histoplasmosis (Histoplasma capsulatum)
 cryptococcosis (Cryptococcus neoformans)
 blastomycosis (Blastomyces dermatidis)
 coccidioidomycosis (Coccidioides immitis)
 paracoccidioidomycosis (Paracoccidioides brasiliensis)
 aspergillosis (Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger)
 zygomycosis or mucormycosis (Mucor, Rhizopus)
 candidiasis (Candida)
 sporotrichosis (Sporothrix schenckii)
 torulopsosis (Torulopsis glabrata)
 fusariosis (Fusarium)
 pseudoallescheriasis (Pseudoallescheria boydii)
 adiaspiromycosis (Chrysosporium parvum var crescens)
 malasseziasis (Malassezia furfur)
 scedosporiosis (Scedosporium apiospermum)

 dermatophytoses

According to the localization

 systemic fungal infection (disseminated fungal infection)
 cutaneous fungal infections
 pulmonary fungal infections
 splenic fungal infections
 renal fungal infections
 digestive fungal infections

See also

 invasive fungal infections

• refractory invasive fungal infections

References

 Casadevall A, Pirofski LA. Polysaccharide-containing conjugate vaccines for fungal diseases. Trends Mol Med. 2005 Nov 22; PMID: #16309965#

 Lupetti A, Nibbering PH, Campa M, Del Tacca M, Danesi R. Molecular targeted treatments for fungal infections: the role of drug combinations. Trends Mol Med. 2003 Jun;9(6):269-76. PMID: #12829016#