TABLE 1.

Types of fungal infections.

Type of mycosis	Tissue type	Tissue involvement	Sources, route/risks of infection
Superficial and cutaneous	Skin, hair and nail	Skin infections confined to epidermis	Human, animal, soil
			For mould and environmental yeasts—contact with infected material, minor abrasion
			For commensal yeast species—changes in host susceptibility, underlying disease
Subcutaneous	Skin	Penetration of the dermis and subcutaneous tissue	Traumatic inoculation, fungi are environmental
Systemic	Blood, lungs, internal organs, dissemination possible	Dissemination from internal infection into the skin may be possible	Opportunistic infections—major risk is immune suppression, underlying disease, hospitalisation
			Endemic dimorphic infections—inhalation of fungal spores, immune suppression