Abstract
Fungal infections have been emerging ever since the developments in diagnostic modalities have taken place. Wounds serve as an excellent media for growth of several microorganisms including fungi. Many of these fungi remain as colonizers in the wound without being detrimental to the host. However, depending on the compromised status of the host immune system, they can often cause infections. The early detection of these fungi which are otherwise “allergens” or “pathogens” is imperative for timely management. The concept of this “fungal counterpart” of the microbiome and its role in infection and healing is increasingly being recognized. Candida species are among the common cause of infection while molds and Aspergillus have often been implicated in traumatic invasive injuries. Prompt management with appropriate antifungal agents is as important as initiating antifungal stewardship by restricting empirical use. Improved diagnostic method of targeting genomic DNA of the fungal agents and initiation of fungal culture methods in resource limited setups have contributed immensely to early diagnosis of infections. However, despite all developments, challenges remain, and future studies should focus on utilizing the mycobiome and their interactions for diagnosis and prognosis in fungal infections and in cases of ulcerations.
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Banerjee, T., Sharma, S., Singh, P. (2023). Fungal Infection and Ulceration. In: Khanna, A.K., Tiwary, S.K. (eds) Uncommon Ulcers of the Extremities. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-1782-2_14
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