Mycology Online The University of Adelaide Australia
Mycology Online
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Fungal Jungle
Mycoses
Superficial
Cutaneous
Subcutaneous
Dimorphic Systemic
Opportunistic
 Aspergillosis
 Cryptococcosis
 Hyalohyphomycosis
 Penicilliosis Marneffei
 Phaeohyphomycosis
 Pseudallescheriasis and Scedosporium Infection
Zygomycosis
Fungal Descriptions
Laboratory Methods

School of Molecular & Biomedical Science
THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE
AUSTRALIA 5005

Contact:
Dr David Ellis

Email


Telephone:
 +61 8 8161 6459
Facsimile:
 +61 8 8161 7589

Opportunistic Systemic Mycoses

These are fungal infections of the body which occur almost exclusively in debilitated patients whose normal defence mechanisms are impaired.  The organisms involved are cosmopolitan fungi which have a very low inherent virulence.  The increased incidence of these infections and the diversity of fungi causing them, has parallelled the emergence of AIDS, more aggressive cancer and post-transplantation chemotherapy and the use of antibiotics, cytotoxins, immunosuppressives, corticosteroids and other macro disruptive procedures that result in lowered resistance of the host.

Australian Guidelines for use of antifungal agents
in treatment of invasive fungal infection (July 2003)
.

Disease Causative organisms        Incidence
Candidiasis  Candida albicans and
related species.
Common
Cryptococcosis Cryptococcus neoformans  Rare/Common
Aspergillosis Aspergillus fumigatus etc.   Rare
Pseudallescheriasis Pseudallescheria boydii Rare
Zygomycosis
 (Mucormycosis)
Rhizopus, Mucor, Rhizomucor,
Absidia
etc.
Rare
Hyalohyphomycosis   Penicillium, Paecilomyces,  Beauveria,
Fusarium, Scopulariopsis
etc.
Rare
Phaeohyphomycosis Cladosporium, Exophiala, Wangiella,
Bipolaris, Exserohilum, Curvularia.
Rare
Penicillosis marneffei Penicillium marneffei Rare