Fungal Infections of the Central Nervous System, 1st ed. 2019 Pathogens, Diagnosis, and Management

This book provides comprehensive information on fungal infections of the central nervous system (CNS). Fungal infections are still a major public health challenge for most of the developing world and even for developed countries due to the rising numbers of immune compromised patients, refugee movements, and international travel. Although fungal infections involving the CNS are not particularly common, when they do occur, the results can be devastating in spite of recent advances and currently available therapies. Further, over the past several years, the incidence of these infections has seen a steep rise among immunodeficient patients. In this context, aggressive surgery remains the mainstay of management, but conservative antifungal drug treatment complemented by aggressive surgical debridement may be necessary. Yet the optimal management approach to fungal infections of the CNS remains controversial, owing to the limited individual experience and the variable clinical course of theconditions. Addressing that problem, this comprehensive book offers the ideal resource for neurosurgeons, neurologists and other specialists working with infectious diseases.

PREFACE.- INTRODUCTION.- SECTION I:  GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS.- Historical aspects of fungal infections.- Epidemiology of fungal infections.- Morphological classification of fungal infections (yeasts, molds, dimorphic).- Pathogenesis of fungal infections.- Predisposing factors.- Histopathology.- Molecular genetics and genomics of fungal infections.- SECTION II:  FUNGAL PATHOGENS: PATHOGENESIS, PATHOLOGY AND DIAGNOSIS.- Chapter 8:  Aspergillosis.- Candidiasis.- Mucormycosis.- Histoplasmosis and coccidioidomycosis.- Cryptococcosis.- Blastomycosis and phaeohyphomycosis.- Onychomycosis.- epeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Emmonsiosis.- Cladophialophora bantiana.- Cladosporidium, Fusarium spp, Bipolaris hawaiiensis, Schizophyllum commune, Mycoplasma hominis, Scedosporium apiospermum.- SECTION III:  CLINICAL SYNDROMES OF FUNGAL INFECTIONS INVOLVING CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM AND ITS COVERINGS.- Meningitis and meningo-encephalitis.- Raised intracranial pressure.- Hydrocephalus.- Intracranial space occupying lesions.- Skull-base syndromes.- Orbito-rhino-cerebral syndrome.- Cavernous sinus syndrome.- Intracranial fungal aneurysms.- Acute ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke syndromes.- Spinal syndromes.- SECTION III:  RADIOLOGICAL FINDINGS OF FUNGAL INFECTIONS INVOLVING CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM AND ITS COVERINGS.- Magnetic resonance imaging.- Positron emission tomography-computed tomography.- Imaging findings of fungal infections of the cranial and peripheral nerves.- Imaging findings of fungal infections of sinuses extending into brain.- Imaging findings of fungal infections of spine and spinal cord.- SECTION IV:  THERAPY OF FUNGAL INFECTIONS INVOLVING CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM AND ITS COVERINGS.-  Antifungals: from genomics to resistance and the development of novel agents.- Surgical therapy.- Prognosis of fungal infections involving the central nervous system and its coverings.- SECTION VI:  FURTHER INSIGHTS INTO FUNGAL INFECTIONS.- In vitro and animal models of fungal infections oReal-time PCR: advanced technologies and applications.- Next-generation sequencing: current technologies and applications.- Current innovations and future trends.- CONCLUSIONS.