Fatal Fungus Infections Complicating Other Diseases

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Abstract
Among the mycoses, infections due to Aspergillus, Candida, Cryptococcus, Histoplasma, and Mucor are frequently complications of other diseases. Aspergillosis, candidiasis, and mucor-mycosis in their disseminated form are unquestionably more frequently encountered in the present era of modern therapeutics. A complex of factors including (a) an underlying state of poor resistance due to the presence of some pre-existing disease (malignant lymphoma, leukemia, cancer, aplastic anemia, tuberculosis, etc.), (b) focus of lowered resistance, usually in the respiratory or alimentary tract, that the organism uses as a portal of entry, and (c) ecologic disturbance, often brought about by antibiotics, cortisone, or ACTH, are operative in most instances of disseminated Aspergillus, Candida, and Mucor infection. Mucormycosis is also a noteworthy complication of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. On the other hand, the frequent association of cryptococcosis and histoplasmosis with Hodgkin''s disease, other malignant lymphomas, leukemia, and tuberculosis is not believed to be related to current modes of therapy. Rather, it is regarded as an expression of the increased susceptibility of patients with these diseases to a variety of infectious processes.