Which population groups are at the highest risk for invasive fungal infections?

Immunocompromised patients are at the highest risk for invasive fungal infections due to their weakened immune systems. This population includes individuals undergoing chemotherapy, those with HIV/AIDS, transplant recipients, and patients on immunosuppressive medications for autoimmune diseases. These factors diminish the body's ability to fight off fungal pathogens, making it significantly more susceptible to infections that a healthy immune system would ordinarily handle effectively. Fungi that are typically harmless can become pathogenic in these individuals, leading to severe systemic infections.

On the contrary, healthy adults generally have robust immune responses capable of managing common fungal exposures, while teenagers and children, despite being in a developing stage, usually maintain adequate immune function. Elderly individuals with no comorbidities also tend to have a better immune response compared to those who are immunocompromised; however, they may be at increased risk due to other factors such as age-related decline in immune function or potential unnoticed underlying health issues. Thus, the significant vulnerability seen in immunocompromised patients places them at the forefront of those at risk for invasive fungal infections.