Emerging Fungal Infections of the Central Nervous System in the Past Decade: A Literature Review

• Main Authors: Rita Lino (Author), André Rodrigues Guimarães (Author), Estela Sousa (Author), Mariana Azevedo (Author), Lurdes Santos (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2024-10-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.3390/idr16050076; 2036-7449
• Keywords: fungi; central nervous system; <i>Blastomyces</i>; <i>Candida auris</i>; <i>Lomentospora</i>; <i>Scedosporium</i>; Other systems of medicine; RZ201-999
• Source: Infectious Disease Reports, Vol 16, Iss 5, Pp 952-976 (2024)

Introduction: Invasive fungal infections affecting the central nervous system (CNS) are a major health concern worldwide associated with high mortality rates. Their increased incidence is largely due to an increase in the vulnerable immunocompromised population, changing environmental factors, and development of more accurate diagnostic methods. The aim of this article is to identify fungal causes of CNS infections that are recently emerging or have the potential to become emerging pathogens in the near future, as well as their clinical characteristics, including: <i>Candida auris</i>, <i>Trichosporon</i> spp., <i>Blastomyces</i> spp., <i>Sporothrix</i> spp., <i>Talaromyces marneffei</i>, <i>Lomentospora prolificans</i>, and <i>Scedosporium</i> spp. Methods: A review of the literature in PubMed in the last ten years was conducted to identify central nervous system infections caused by each of these fungi. Results: The review identified 10 cases caused by <i>C. auris</i>, 5 cases by <i>Trichosporon</i> spp., 82 cases by <i>Blastomyces</i> spp., 36 cases by <i>Sporothrix</i> spp., 21 cases by <i>T. marneffei</i>, 22 cases by <i>Lomentospora prolificans,</i> and 42 cases by <i>Scedosporium</i> spp. Discussion: The exact burden of these diseases remains difficult to ascertain, but their apparent rise underscores the urgent need for improved diagnostic, treatment, and management strategies against CNS fungal pathogens to improve outcomes against these life-threatening infections.