A neglected epidemic: fungal infections in HIV/AIDS

Trends Microbiol. 2014 Mar;22(3):120-7. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2014.01.001. Epub 2014 Feb 13.

Abstract

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are a major cause of HIV-related mortality globally. Despite widespread rollout of combined antiretroviral therapy, there are still up to 1 million deaths annually from IFIs, accounting for 50% of all AIDS-related death. A historic failure to focus efforts on the IFIs that kill so many HIV patients has led to fundamental flaws in the management of advanced HIV infection. This review, based on the EMBO AIDS-Related Mycoses Workshop in Cape Town in July 2013, summarizes the current state of the-art in AIDS-related mycoses, and the key action points required to improve outcomes from these devastating infections.

Keywords: AIDS; HIV; fungal infection; immunity; mycoses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / diagnosis
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / epidemiology*
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / microbiology*
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / mortality
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / complications*
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Mycoses / diagnosis
  • Mycoses / drug therapy*
  • Mycoses / epidemiology*
  • Mycoses / mortality
  • Prevalence
  • Survival Analysis

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents