Life-Threatening Fungal Infections

Course overview

The overall incidence of life-threatening invasive fungal infections has increased during the past several decades because, in part, of an increasing population of immunosuppressed and critically ill patients. Patients with cancer with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, transplant recipients receiving immunosuppressive therapy, patients with HIV, and patients in ICUs are at an increased risk of acquiring fungal infections. Healthcare professionals need to educate vulnerable patients about the importance of infection-control protocols to reduce their risk of developing invasive fungal infections. Such patient education can save lives. This module fills gaps in knowledge about the prevention of life-threatening fungal infections. This module also provides information regarding the newer, deadly, globally-emerging pathogen, Candida auris.