Fungemia
| Fungemia | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Infectious diseases  |
Fungemia is the presence of fungi or yeasts in the blood. It is most commonly caused by Candida species (also known as Candidemia, Candedemia, and Invasive Candidiasis), but can be caused by other fungi as well, including Aspergillus and Cryptococcus. It is most commonly seen in immunosuppressed or immunocompromised patients with severe neutropenia, oncology patients, or in patients with intravenous catheters. Recently, it has been suggested the otherwise immunocompetent patients taking infliximab may be at a higher risk for fungemia.
The diagnosis is complicated, as routine blood cultures have poor sensitivity.
Treatment
Treatment involves use of antifungals, e.g. fluconazole or amphotericin.
Risk factors
Pathogens
The most commonly known pathogen is Candida albicans, causing roughly 70% of fungemias, followed by Candida glabrata with 10%, and Aspergillus with 1%.[citation needed] However, the frequency of infection by C. glabrata, Candida tropicalis, C. krusei, and C. parapsilosis is increasing, especially when significant use of fluconazole is common.
Symptoms
Symptoms can range from mild to extreme, often described as extreme flu-like symptoms. Pain, mental disorders, chronic fatigue, infections, are a few of the long list of associated symptoms with Fungemia. Skin infections can include persistent or unhealing wounds and lesions, sweating, itching, unusual discharge or drainage and more.