Diagnosis of pulmonary fungal infections

The diagnosis of pulmonary fungal infections is reviewed. An overview of the major endemic and opportunistic fungal infections is followed by a brief discussion of the available diagnostic tools. These include: (1) direct microscopic examination of secretions or body fluids; (2) histopathologic examination of tissue biopsies; (3) cultures of secretions, body fluids, or ground-up tissue; and (4) immunological tests ("fungal serologies"). In the final section, a current diagnostic approach is given that identifies the diagnostic tests most likely to be helpful for each infection.