ABSTRACT
The last 20 years have witnessed a significant increase in the incidence of serious, systemic fungal infections. One major cause of this is the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic which has left many thousands of individuals with susceptibility to systemic mycoses, leading to a high degree of morbidity and mortality. Another group of immunocompromized patients vulnerable to fungal infection are those receiving treatment for cancer or organ transplantation, and even those undergoing major surgery. Low birthweight babies in intensive care are also at risk. For recipients of bone marrow transplants, invasive aspergillosis is a leading cause of death, and Pneumocystic carinii is a major cause of death in AIDS patients.
