Blood Fungus: Understanding Fungal Infections in the bloodstream

What is sometimes termed ̶0;blood fungus̶1; is actually a variety of cultures of living fungi that can exist in our bloodstream. Some of these ̶0;blood̶1; fungi are non-pathogenic, or harmless, such as Penicillium, according to the Journal of Clinical Microbiology. Some, however, are disease-producing fungi, also known as ̶0;pathogens.̶1;

Definition

• Blood fungus, also known as fungal sepsis or a ̶0;systemic fungal infection,̶1; according to the Anaesthetist website on fungal infections, is a fungal ̶0;colonization̶1; that starts in the bloodstream, but can spread to other parts of the body. Pathogenic blood fungus is an increasing problem in hospitals worldwide, according to a Centers for Disease Control website.

Candida Albicans

• One serious blood fungus pathogen is Candida albicans. According to the Centers for Disease Control website, Candidemia̵2;a condition caused by Candida albicans̵2;may be the fourth-biggest agent of overall bloodstream infections in the U.S.

Aspergillus

• Pulmonary Aspergillosis is caused when the spores of Aspergillus fungi, another pathogen, are inhaled, according to the Anaesthetist website. This condition can also develop into ̶0;Invasive Aspergillosis,̶1; which has a high fatality rate among at-risk patients.

At-Risk Patients

• Those most at risk for a blood fungus infection are patients undergoing chemotherapy or who have had a bone marrow transplant, patients whose immune system is compromised and patients in intensive care units, according to the CDC website.

Other Pathogens

• Other blood fungus pathogens include: Candida parapsilosis, Histoplasmosis, Blastomycosis, Cryptococcus neoformans and Coccidioidomycosis, according to the Anaesthetist website.

Diagnosis and Treatment

• An accurate diagnosis is vital with blood fungus, in order to receive proper treatment; blood fungus does not respond to antibiotics and many types are also resistant to anti-fungal drugs. Anti-retrovirus therapy can help raise survival odds with blood fungus pathogens such as pulmonary Aspergillosis, according to the Anaesthetist website.