Opportunistic Fungal Infections

Opportunistic Fungal Infections

Introduction

The opportunistic fungi usually cause infections in persons with impaired host defense, but do not cause disease in most of the immunocompetent hosts. Since these fungi become pathogens in individuals with impaired immunity by taking advantage of the host’s debilitated conditions, they are called opportunistic fungi.

In recent times, there is an increasing list of exotic and rare fungi, which have been associated to cause opportunistic infections. But most opportunistic infections are caused by Candida albicans, Aspergillus spp., Penicillium marneffei, and vari-ous Zygomycetes (Table 74-1).