Presente y futuro de la micología médica

Abstract

During the second part of XX century, the prevalence of fungal infections has raised inexorably. The main cause has been the increase of number of immunosupressed patients and the new aggressive therapeutic approaches. Since 1970, the annual incidence of candidosis and aspergilosis has increased 40 and 6.5 times, respectively. Additional studies reported in USA and Europe indicated that Candida produce between 5-10% of all episodes of nosocomial sepsis. In this revision, we analyse the present situation of Medical Mycology including the most relevant aspects as: a) the increase of incidence in fungal infections; b) the problems of the diagnosis including classical and new methodologies and antifungal susceptibility testing, and c) the uncertainties of the treatment due to the arrival of new formulations and new antifungals The future of Medical Mycology depends in many factors but molecular biology will play the central role although this discipline will develop slower than other microbiology areas as virology or bacteriology. Although the increase of incidence in invasive fungal infections has been enormous, we must not forget that any group in solitary could not answer the many unresolved questions. Thus, the call for research executed by Instituto de Salud Carlos III for financing Thematic Research Networks could be the starting point for a new time in invasive fungal infections.