MEDICAL MYCOLOGY

Dr Tadayo Hashimoto M.D.
Professor
Department of Microbiology & Immunology

6. Mycotic infections

can be diagnosed without isolation of a causative agent.
usually need no medication because they tend to heal spontaneously
are opportunistic infections
do not resemble to bacterial infections in their clinical manifestations
are one of the most frequent complications that kill AIDS patients

(E) Mycotic infections are one of the leading causes of death in AIDS patients. Not all mycotic infections are opportunistic infections. Some mycotic infections (coccidioidomycosis) occur in both compromised host and apparently "normal" individuals. Symptoms of mycotic infections often mimic those of bacterial infections, thus isolation of a causative agent is essential for establishing the diagnosis of any mycotic infection (Ryan et al, 575-577, 579-582)

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Last Reviewed: Feb 11, 2009
Created: Aug 8, 1996