Fungal infections
Fungal infections
Several thousand species of fungi have been described, but fewer than 100 are routinely associated with invasive diseases of humans. In general, healthy humans have a very high level of natural immunity to fungi, and most fungal infections are mild and self-limiting. Intact skin and mucosal surfaces and a functional immune system serve as the primary barriers to colonization by these ubiquitous organisms, but these barriers are sometimes breached.
Unlike viruses, protozoan parasites, and some bacterial species, fungi do not require human or animal tissues to perpetuate or preserve the species. Virtually all fungi that have been implicated in human disease are free-living in nature. However, there are exceptions, including various Candida spp., which are frequently found on mucosal surfaces of the body such as the mouth and vagina, and Malassezia furfur, which is usually found on skin surfaces that are rich in sebaceous glands. These organisms are often cultured from healthy tissues, but under certain conditions they cause disease. Only a handful of fungi cause significant disease in healthy individuals. Once established, these diseases can be classified according to the tissues that are initially colonized.
Superficial mycoses
Four infections are classified in the superficial mycoses. Black piedra, caused by Piedraia hortai, and white piedra, caused by Trichosporn beigleii, are infections of the hair. The skin infections include tinea nigra, caused by Exophiala werneckii, and tinea versicolor, caused by M. furfur. Where the skin is involved, the infections are limited to the outermost layers of the stratum corneum; in the case of hairs, the infection is limited to the cuticle. In general, these infections cause no physical discomfort to the patient, and the disease is brought to the attention of the physician for cosmetic reasons.
Cutaneous mycoses
The cutaneous mycoses are caused by a homogeneous group of keratinophilic fungi termed the dermatophytes. Species within this group are capable of colonizing the integument and its appendages (the hair and the nails). In general, the infections are limited to the nonliving keratinized layers of skin, hair, and nails, but a variety of pathologic changes can occur depending on the etiologic agent, site of infection, and immune status of the host. The diseases are collectively called the dermatophytoses, ringworms, or tineas. They account for most of the fungal infections of humans.
Subcutaneous mycoses
The subcutaneous mycoses include a wide spectrum of infections caused by a heterogeneous group of fungi. The infections are characterized by the development of lesions at sites of inoculation, commonly as a result of traumatic implantation of the etiologic agent. The infections initially involve the deeper layers of the dermis and subcutaneous tissues, but they eventually extend into the epidermis. The lesions usually remain localized or spread slowly by direct extension via the lymphatics, for example, subcutaneous sporotrichosis.
Systemic mycoses
The initial focus of the systemic mycoses is the lung. The vast majority of cases in healthy, immunologically competent individuals are asymptomatic or of short duration and resolve rapidly, accompanied in the host by a high degree of specific resistance. However, in immunosuppressed patients the infection can lead to life-threatening disease. See Fungi, Medical mycology