Advances in Medical Mycology: Epidemiology, Antifungal Resistance, and Novel Therapeutic Strategies

This chapter reviews the changing epidemiology of invasive fungal infections, with particular attention to the expanding population of immunocompromised hosts and the emergence of novel fungal pathogens such as Candida auris as a global nosocomial threat. It critically evaluates the mechanisms of antifungal resistance in Candida, Aspergillus, and Mucorales species, and examines the implications of azole resistance for clinical management and global public health. The chapter further discusses recent advances in fungal diagnostics, immunotherapy, and the development pipeline for new antifungal agents and combination strategies.