Review article
Ecology of cutaneous fungal infections
Maja Lenković
; Clinic for dermatology, Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka, Croatia
Franjo Gruber
; Deparment of Dermatovenerology, School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia
Marija Kaštelan
; Deparment of Dermatovenerology, School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia
Abstract
ABSTRACT. The incidence of cutaneous fungal diseases is constantly increasing. In this
review we present the most important factors which influence the manifestation and
spreading of fungal infections, based on our previous research and data from current
literature. The diversity in clinical presentation and damage of various organs is the
consequence of biological characteristics of fungi and humans. We give an overview of the
most significant features of fungi as infectious agents, as well as the impact of environmental
factors such as clothing and the use of shoes, factors related to the host including other
diseases and impaired immunological status in the pathogenesis of fungal infections. We
also discuss how the advances in medicine and development of pharmaceutical industry
contribute to the incidence of cutaneous fungal diseases and the role of antibiotics,
corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents have in the etiology of fungal infections.
Keywords
cutaneous infections; dermatophytes; ecology; yeasts
Hrčak ID:
25950
URI
Publication date:
1.6.2008.
Visits: 4.696 *