Chapter 4, Problem 14Q

Summary Introduction

To determine:

The reason forthe increased incidence of opportunistic fungal diseases in humans in the last 50 years.

Introduction:

The human body is occupied with various nonpathogenic normal microfloraof bacteria and fungi which prevents the entry of pathogenic microbes. For example, the normal microflora of Lactobacillus and Staphylococcus among others prevents microbial infection in different body regions. But there are some types of fungal infections which occur most frequently in immunocompromised conditions. Opportunistic fungi, attack or cause infection in humans with weak or altered body immunity.