Fungemia overview

Fungemia is the presence of fungi or yeasts in the blood. 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 most commonly known pathogen

• Candida albicans, causing roughly 70% of fungemias
• Candida glabrata with 10%
• Aspergillus with 1%.
• Tinea glabrata
• Candida tropicalis
• C. krusei
• C. parapsilosis

Immunocompromised patients, long term severe illnesses, use of broad spectrum antibiotics and colonization of fungi are the major risk factors for development of fungemia.

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.

The diagnosis is complicated, as routine blood cultures have poor sensitivity.

Treatment involves use of antifungals, e.g. fluconazole or amphotericin.

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