ABSTRACT
An effective immune response is the major contributor to host defense against opportunistic mycoses. This is best illustrated by the finding that invasive mycoses (1M) primarily occur when immune components are absent or dysfunctional. Profound neutropenia. such as develops in patients with cancer and/or bone marrow transplantation (BMT) secondary to the underlying disease or to the treatment. is a major risk factor for 1M. Other risk factors include corticosteroid treatment and phagocytic dysfunction resulting from immunocompromising disorders such as infection with human immunodeficiency virus (RN). chronic granulomatous disease, and graft versus host reaction.
