Fungi are spore producing organisms like yeast, molds, and mushrooms. They are common in the environment and are seen as more of nuisance, like mold on cheese. However, there are hundreds of kinds of fungi that are known to cause infections, particularly in people with weakened immune systems, such as those who are hospitalized or living with an immune disease. Usually, these infections can be treated with antimicrobial drugs, but an increasing number of fungal diseases are becoming resistant to drugs, worrying public health officials that they may cause a rise in infections that cannot be treated.
