Emerging fungal pathogens in patients with hematologic malignancies and marrow/stem-cell transplant recipients.

Fungal infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with hematologic malignancies and recipients of bone-marrow/hematopoietic stem-cell transplants. Although Candida and Aspergillus species remain the most common fungal pathogens, multiple unusual fungal pathogens are being increasingly recognized as a cause of infection in these patients. Many of these rare fungal infections have a characteristic clinical disease spectrum. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of these infections is the key to a successful outcome. In this article, we summarize the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, and approach to the management of infections caused by Fusarium, Zygomycetes, Scedosporium, Trichosporon, Malassezia, Alternaria, Paecilomyces, and Penicillium. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.