A patient undergoing chemotherapy experiences neutropenia, resulting in a severely compromised immune system. Which mechanism explains why opportunistic fungal infections, like aspergillosis, become life-threatening during this period?

💡 Explanation

Opportunistic fungal infections become life-threatening because neutropenia reduces the number of neutrophils available to engulf and destroy fungal pathogens via phagocytosis. Therefore, the fungal infection progresses unchecked, rather than being contained by the innate immune system, leading to systemic disease.

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