Central nervous system (CNS) fungal infections are challenging and difficult to diagnose and treat. This article introduces the high risk factors, pathogen spectrum and laboratory indicators that cause CNS fungal infection. As patients with CNS fungal infections are often accompanied by immunodeficiency, it is especially necessary for clinical early detection, early prevention, and early diagnosis, and timely and effective implementation of optimized diagnosis and treatment programs to prevent further deterioration of the disease.
Central Nervous System ; Central Nervous System Fungal Infections/microbiology* ; Central Nervous System Infections ; Fungi ; Humans ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical characteristics of invasive fungal infection secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: We observed the clinical features and experimental examination in 91 patients treated in Xiangya Hospital in recent years, of which 48 patients with invasive fungal infection and 41 patients without invasive fungal infection. RESULTS: The invasive fungal infection secondary to SLE mainly occurred in the lungs, nervous system, and urinary system. The fungi were mainly Candida albins and Aspergillus. The rate of invasive fungal infection in SLE patients and the level of CRP and TNF-α in these patients were significantly increased. The occurrence of invasive fungal infection was positively correlated with the prolonged course of disease, long-term use of immunosuppressants and antibiotics, and occurrence of complications, such as hypoproteinemia, leukocytopenia, and so on. The levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) were increased in SLE patients with invasive fungal infection. CONCLUSION The clinical features of SLE patients with invasive fungal infections are long course of disease, long-time use of immunosuppressants or antibiotics, and occurrence of complications, such as hypoproteinemia or leukopenia. The level of CRP and TNF-α can be used as an important reference index for diagnosing invasive fungal infections.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aspergillus ; isolation & purification ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Candida albicans ; isolation & purification ; Central Nervous System Fungal Infections ; epidemiology ; Child ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Fungal ; epidemiology ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; microbiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycoses ; complications ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; Young Adult