Fungal colonization in patients with cancer of the upper respiratory tract.

Fungal opportunistic infections are a danger for immunocompromised hosts, such as patients with malignancies, especially in a hospital environment. We studied a group of patients with solid tumors of the respiratory tract on admission and after twenty days of hospitalization. Colonization by moulds and/or yeasts was frequently found. Preventive measures should be applied to avoid colonization inside the hospital. The importance of overcrowding, sanitation and diet is pointed out.