Fungal Infection in HIV-Infected Patients-Is It Still a Challenge?

Fungi are one of the major causes of opportunistic infections in people living with HIV/AIDS. Pneumocystis jirovecii, Cryptococcus neoformans, Histoplasma capsulatum, and Candida spp. are especially more likely to affect HIV-infected individuals. Introduction and broad use of antiretroviral therapy have led to a significant decrease in invasive fungal infections in HIV-positive patients. Still, in untreated/abandoned HIV-infected individuals or patients with poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy, fungal infections may lead to severe clinical complications and death. In recent years, data have shown a growing number of immunocompromised patients due to malignancies, immunosuppressive therapies, and transplantations in the general population, and the number of susceptible individuals to fungal infections is increasing. Moreover, rising antifungal resistance is a serious threat to public health. This article provides an overview of common fungal infections in patients with HIV and discusses the changes in epidemiology and etiology, as well as current therapeutic challenges.