Invasive fungal infections in congenital immunodeficiencies

Both acquired and congenital immunodeficiencies may be associated with increased susceptibility to invasive fungal infections (IFIs), depending on the type of immune deficit. IFIs frequently occur in patients with phagocytic and cellular immune defects, but are rarely observed in those with humoral or complement deficits. Among congenital immune disorders, chronic granulomatous disease and hyper-IgE syndrome are most frequently associated with IFIs; variable susceptibility to fungal pathogens is also seen in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency, X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome, common variable immunodeficiency, defects in the interferon-γ-interleukin-12 axis, and myeloperoxidase deficiency. Aspergillus, Candida, Cryptococcus, Histoplasma and other fungal genera are variably implicated in causing invasive infections in these patients. Prompt diagnosis of IFIs in this patient population requires a high degree of suspicion, together with a knowledge of their clinical presentation and the limitations of diagnostic modalities. Apart from administration of appropriate antifungal agents, successful management often requires the addition of surgical intervention. Adjunctive immunotherapy may be considered, although this has not been systematically studied. Prophylactic interferon-γ and itraconazole administration have been shown to reduce the risk of IFIs in patients with chronic granulomatous disease; however, the possibility of infections with azole-resistant organisms following long-term itraconazole prophylaxis should not be overlooked.