Systemic fungal infections in patients with human inmunodeficiency virus

Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2014 Jan-Feb;105(1):5-17. doi: 10.1016/j.ad.2012.06.017. Epub 2012 Oct 26.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

Histoplasmosis is a systemic infection caused by the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. In immunocompromised patients, primary pulmonary infection can spread to the skin and meninges. Clinical manifestations appear in patients with a CD4(+) lymphocyte count of less than 150 cells/μL. Coccidioidomycosis is a systemic mycosis caused by Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii. It can present as diffuse pulmonary disease or as a disseminated form primarily affecting the central nervous system, the bones, and the skin. Cryptococcosis is caused by Cryptococcus neoformans (var. neoformans and var. grubii) and Cryptococcus gattii, which are members of the Cryptococcus species complex and have 5 serotypes: A, B, C, D, and AD. It is a common opportunistic infection in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS, even those receiving antiretroviral therapy. Histopathologic examination and culture of samples from any suspicious lesions are essential for the correct diagnosis of systemic fungal infections in patients with HIV/AIDS.

Keywords: Adquired inmunodeficiency syndrome; Coccidioidomicosis; Coccidioidomycosis; Criptococosis; Cryptococcosis; Histoplasmosis; Human immunodeficiency virus; Sida; Virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / diagnosis*
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / microbiology
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Coccidioides / isolation & purification
  • Coccidioidomycosis / diagnosis
  • Coccidioidomycosis / epidemiology
  • Coccidioidomycosis / microbiology
  • Coccidioidomycosis / transmission
  • Cryptococcosis / diagnosis
  • Cryptococcosis / epidemiology
  • Cryptococcosis / microbiology
  • Cryptococcosis / transmission
  • Cryptococcus gattii / isolation & purification
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / isolation & purification
  • Dermatomycoses / diagnosis
  • Dermatomycoses / etiology
  • Dermatomycoses / microbiology
  • Dermatomycoses / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Fungemia / diagnosis
  • Fungemia / etiology
  • Fungemia / microbiology
  • Histoplasma / isolation & purification
  • Histoplasmosis / diagnosis
  • Histoplasmosis / epidemiology
  • Histoplasmosis / microbiology
  • Histoplasmosis / transmission
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / diagnosis*
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / etiology
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / microbiology
  • Mycoses / diagnosis*
  • Mycoses / etiology
  • Mycoses / microbiology
  • Skin Ulcer / etiology
  • Spain / epidemiology