Final answer:
Fungal infections are a significant concern for patients with compromised immune systems, including those with AIDS, cancer, transplant recipients, and individuals with an immature or declining immune function. These opportunistic infections exploit weakened immune defenses and do not respond to traditional antibacterial antibiotics.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fungal infections are especially troublesome in patients who have compromised immune systems. Because fungi are eukaryotic, similar to human cells, traditional antibiotic therapy designed to target bacteria is not effective against them. These infections are opportunistic and can become life-threatening when a person's immune defense is weakened. This includes patients with AIDS, cancer, organ transplants, and the very young or elderly whose immune systems are not at full strength. Additionally, conditions such as changes in pH or disruptions in the normal population of bacteria can lead to unchecked fungal growth, resulting in infections like oral thrush or vaginal yeast infections caused by Candida spp.
Opportunistic mycoses can be found in common environments or as part of the normal human biota. They pose a significant risk to individuals with immune systems that are compromised, making successful treatment more challenging. The risk of developing severe fungal infections like respiratory mucormycosis is higher among immunocompromised patients, such as those with cancer or who have undergone transplants.