A Study of invasive fungal infections at a tertiary level hospital: Prospective study

Abstract

Introduction: Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) represent a major cause of increased morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients.¹ IFDs are an emerging problem worldwide, are generally very difficult to cure and the associated mortality remains very high depending on the pathogen and patient population.³⁴⁴ Fungal species are approximately 7 percent (6, 11,000 species) and they are distributed in soil, plant debris, and other organic substrates², approximately 600 species are human pathogens.³ Invasive fungal infection prevalence rose from 2.2% (1987) to 5.1% in last 12-year period.⁴ According to recent data, 3 million people worldwide are thought to be affected by chronic severe fungal infections, whereas approximately 1.9 million patients get acute invasive fungal infections (IFI) each year. An estimated 1.6 million fatalities per year are linked to all fungal illnesses, many of which are fatal infections.⁵ Nearly 70% of all IFIs in the world are caused by invasive candidiasis (IC), followed by cryptococcosis (20%) and aspergillosis (10%).⁶ The identification of candida species is important in the diagnostic laboratory .There is a prognostic and therapeutical significance, in the identification of candida species and thus early and correct antifungal therapy can be initiated.⁷Antifungal resistance is a serious issue in both time and space because fungi belonging to the species Candida, Aspergillus, Cryptococcus, and Pneumocystis have been exhibiting considerable rates of antifungal resistance worldwide.^8,9 Several new antifungals have expanded prophylaxis and treatment options for invasive fungal infections Overview of treatment options for invasive fungal infections.¹⁰

Keywords: Invasive fungal infections, morbidity and mortality, morbidity and mortality