Fungal Diseases

Overview

Fungal diseases may sound mysterious and dangerous, but often they cause familiar infections. Yeast infections, thrush, ring worm, eye, lung, skin, hair, and nail infections can all be caused by fungi. Fungi are lurking everywhere and interact with humans, animals, and plants in a variety of ways. Some of these interactions can be beneficial; for example, both penicillin and bread, wine and beer use ingredients made from fungi. However, certain types of fungi can be harmful to health. Like bacteria and viruses, some fungi can act as pathogens. Human fungal diseases can occur due to infection or fungal toxins.

Fungi can be found in plants, soil, the environment, certain trees, decaying vegetation, and decomposing organic matter, even on our skin, mucus membranes and intestinal tract. Symptoms for fungal diseases can be as common as itching, coughing, fever, wheezing, but they can also be as serious as meningitis or even death. Learn how to protect yourself from fungal diseases by clicking on each fungal disease.

Investigation of Fungal Meningitis, October 2012

CDC Responds to Multistate Fungal Meningitis Outbreak

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with state and local health departments and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating a multistate fungal meningitis outbreak among patients who have received a steroid injection of a potentially contaminated product into the spinal area. Several patients suffered strokes that are believed to have resulted from their infection. The investigation also includes fungal infections associated with injections in a peripheral joint space, such as a knee, shoulder or ankle. CDC and public health officials are referring any patients who have symptoms that suggest possible meningitis or a possible peripheral joint infection to their physicians who can evaluate them further. Those patients injected in peripheral joints only are not believed to be at risk for fungal meningitis but could be at risk for joint infection.

Why are fungal diseases a public health issue?

Mycotic (fungal) infections pose an increasing threat to public health for several reasons. The scientific and medical staff of the Mycotic Diseases Branch is involved with prevention and control among three broad categories of fungal infections:

Opportunistic infections such as cryptococcosis [PDF - 2 pages] and aspergillosis are becoming increasingly problematic as the number of people with weakened immune systems rises – this includes cancer patients, transplant recipients, and people with HIV/AIDS.
Hospital-associated infections such as candidemia are a leading cause of bloodstream infections in the United States. Advancements and changes in healthcare practices can provide opportunities for new and drug-resistant fungi to emerge in hospital settings.
Community-acquired infections such as coccidioidomycosis (valley fever), blastomycosis, and histoplasmosis, are caused by fungi that are abundant in the environment. These types of fungi live in the soil, on plants, or in compost heaps, and are endemic (native and common) throughout much of the U.S. Climate change may be affecting these fungi, as even small changes in temperature or moisture can affect their growth.

What is CDC doing to combat fungal diseases?

The Mycotic Diseases Branch responds to the public heath burden of fungal disease [PDF - 2 pages] through a variety of domestic and international activities.

Responding to outbreaks with epidemiologic investigations
Monitoring long-term trends in fungal diseases through surveillance
Developing, evaluating, and promoting cost-effective prevention guidelines and intervention strategies
Conducting laboratory activities that are vital to outbreak investigations and surveillance studies
Equipping laboratories in developing countries to perform diagnostic tests