Clinical characteristics and etiological analysis of deep fungal infections in a general hospital in Southwest China (2020–2024)

Background: Deep fungal infections (DFIs) represent a significant and growing threat to hospitalized patients, contributing to substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. The healthcare landscape has undergone notable changes in recent years, particularly with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has altered host immunity and care pathways, potentially influencing the epidemiology of DFIs. Objective: This study aimed to delineate the clinical characteristics, mycological profiles, risk factors of deep fungal infections, and to evaluate factors associated with mortality among inpatients in a general hospital in southwestern China from 2020 to 2024. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 886,056 patients in the hospital from 2020 to 2024, including the epidemiological characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of deep fungal infections. Results: < 0.05). Conclusions: has increased. Although clinical data remain limited, these findings provide valuable insights for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of deep fungal infections.