PATHOGENIC FUNGI IN HUMAN DWELLINGS

Airborne invasive fungal infections in various risk groups of people suffering from immunodeficiencies are an increasing problem for modern medicine. Because of the acute and rapid course of invasive infections, prevention is of principal significance. Such prevention mainly concerns the control of fungal spores in indoor air. In this connection the immediate environment offering ecological niches for growth and morphogenesis of infective particles of Aspergillus spp., Mucoraceae, Cryptococcus neoformans and some other yeast-like fungi is of main interest. The current problems of indoor air mycology, i.e. the epidemiology and ecology of pathogenic fungi in indoor air, can only be recognized and interpreted by centres routinely performing mycological diagnosis for all the various risk groups of patients. Models of specific surveillance of the most important fungal pathogens (e.g. Aspergillus spp. and Cryptococcus neoformans) in indoor air will be outlined and discussed.