Nursing Care of a Patient with Acute Invasive Fungal Sinusitis (AIFS) - A Case Report

Fungi are ubiquitous, they are found in the air we inhale, food we eat and the surroundings in which we live. A functioning and a healthy immune system protect the majority of the population from developing this rare and serious disease. In a healthy adult, Fungi are unable to penetrate the epithelial layer, the first layer of defense, whereas in the presence of a weakened immune system which is most often seen in conditions such as Diabetes Mellitus, chemotherapy or Corticosteroids use, the fungi are able to penetrate normal mucosal barriers and invade host tissues. A proper diagnosis and classification of these fungal sino-nasal disorders needs a good appreciation and knowledge about the host�s immune status along with other key clinical characteristics. (Soler& Schlosser, 2012)