Title: Emerging Fungal Respiratory Tract Infections in a Tertiary Care Hospital of North India, Punjab

Authors: Dr Manvy Chalana, Dr Loveena Oberoi, Dr Anuradha Malhotra

 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v7i8.143

Abstract

        

Introduction

Among all the infectious diseases, Respiratory tract infections are globally responsible for one-third of disease associated mortality, accounting for 4.3 million annual deaths.  Among these, fungal infections of the respiratory tract are largely unrecognized, and the true burden is elusive.[1] Despite treatment, most invasive chronic respiratory fungal infections are associated with high mortality rates of >50%.[2] Fungi may colonize body sites without producing disease or they may be a true pathogen, generating a broad variety of clinical syndromes.[3] Early diagnosis and appropriate timely treatment are essential to prevent the emergence and further spread of such chronic respiratory tract infections.[4] The present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of common fungal pulmonary infections at a tertiary care hospital of Punjab.

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Corresponding Author

Dr Loveena Oberoi

Professor and Head, Dept of Microbiology, GMC Amritsar, India