Fungi versus advances in medicine.

Abstract

Progress in medicine has definitely increased the chances of successful management of many clinical conditions. Unfortunately, some of these advances are connected with the frequent appearance of hitherto relatively rare mycotic infections. Fungal opportunists, mainly Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus fumigatus, and certain zygomycetes ‐ all endowed with pathogenic properties ‐ take advantage of changes in the human body which are often caused by modern means of treatment. These include long‐term application of antibiotic drugs with broad antibacterial spectrum; application of immuno‐suppressive therapy; and administration of corticosteroids, antimetabolites, and cytostatic drugs. Of increasing importance is contaminated technical equipment for maintaining or restoring essential functions of life during operations and intensive care, mainly because the proper and frequent disinfection of such apparatus presents many difficulties; this also refers to apparatus for repeated hemodialysis. Solutions for intravenous use, therapeutic eye or ear drops and ointments have been contaminated with fungi and provoked iatrogenic mycoses. Post‐operative administration of antibiotics after heart surgery done without previous decontamination of the patient, and decreased resistance against infection of patients suffering from neoplastic diseases, leukemia, and lymphomas require particular attention.