Interferon Treatment Possibly Induces Endogenous Mycotic

Endogenous acute and invasive fungal infections are usually seen in immune deficient and debilitated patients who have a systemic debilitating disease. In specific, use of a long-term indwelling catheter for intravenous hyperalimentation (IVH) is well-recognized as the most important trigger of endogenous fungal endophthalmitis. Immunodeficiency has also been shown to occur in patients who undergo interferon treatment [1], and it has previously been reported that interferon treatment caused bone marrow suppression that might result in declines in all three blood cell lines [2]. In addition, it has been reported that interferon-induced neutropenia might put a patient at increased risk for bacterial infections.