ORIGINAL PAPER
A series of fungal infections with rare presentation in critically ill patients: diagnostic and treatment challenges
 
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1
Critical Care, University Hospital Attikon
 
2
Radiology, University Hospital Attikon
 
3
Pathology, University Hospital Attikon
 
 
Corresponding author
Frantzeska Frantzeskaki
Department of Critical Care Medicine, University Hospital Attikon, Medical School, University of Athens 1 Rimini str, 12462 Haidari, Athens Greece
 
 
Pneumon 2015;28(2):167-172
 
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Invasive fungal infections are alarmingly common in ICU patients, associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Risk factors are the increased use of indwelling central venous catheters, the use of broad spectrum antibiotics, parenteral nutrition, renal replacement therapy and immunosuppression. Diagnosis of these infections might be complicated, requiring tissue cultures. Additionally, therapy of invasive fungal infections might be difficult, given the rising resistance of fungi to antifungal agents. We present three rare cases of fungal infections in critically ill patients: a Candida albicans pyelonephritis, a Candida albicans thrombophlebitis of central veins and an orofacial mucormycosis. Difficult to treat fungal infections may complicate the clinical course of critically ill patients and render their prognosis unfavorable.
 
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