Central nervous system fungal infections; a review article

Abstract

Central nervous system (CNS) fungal infections have a high rate of morbidity and mortality that increased during last three decades. CNS fungal infections present a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. High numbers of organ transplants, chemotherapy patients, intensive care unit hospitalizations, immunocompromised patients and haematological malignancies increase morbidity and mortality. Several fungi including, saprophytic fungi, melanized fungi, dimorphic fungi, yeast and yeasts-likes cause CNS fungal infections. New antifungal, posaconazole, voriconazole and echinocandins as well as traditionally antifungal, amphotericine B, flucytosine and itraconazole were used for CNS fungal infection therapy.