Epidemiology of invasive fungal infection

Invasive fungal infection is a growing cause of morbidity and mortality in immunosuppressed patients. Furthermore, the use of azole prophylaxis against Candida species has coincided with an increase in the incidence of invasive aspergillosis and infections by other filamentous fungi such as Mucorales. New risk factors and different timescales for onset have been identified. Knowledge of changes in the epidemiology of, and risk factors for, invasive fungal infection is particularly important when developing therapeutic strategies and effective prophylaxis to improve the prognosis of immunosuppressed patients. (C) 2008 Elsevier B. V. and the International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.