Abstract
To identify recent trends in the frequency of mycoses in autopsy cases, we analyzed, on a four-year basis, the 1989–2009 data in the Annual of Pathological Autopsy Cases in Japan. Of the 13,787 (9235 males) autopsies conducted in 2009, 4.5% (633/13,787) involved fungal infections and of the latter, 60.3% (368/633) were found to have severe clinical manifestations. Among the 610 (96.4%) cases involving a single etiologic angent, the predominant pathogens were Aspergillus (299 cases; 49%) and Candida (184 cases; 30.2%). However, it should be noted that the prevalence of severe aspergillosis and candidiasis has been decreasing. Although the frequency of cases involving zygomycetes seemed to be generally remaining stable from 1989–2009, we noted for the first time a peak in 2009 in such infections in patients less than one year old. Finally, deep-seated infections caused by unidentified fungi would appear to be decreasing over the time of the survey. Our finding, it is hoped, will encourage physicians to actively pursue viscerial fungal infections.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank all the pathologists who provided the annual reports in Japan.
Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and the writing of the paper.
This paper was first published online on Early Online on 15 January 2013.