The impact of culture isolation of Aspergillus species: a hospital-based survey of aspergillosis.
Published
Journal Article
The term "aspergillosis" comprises several categories of infection: invasive aspergillosis; chronic necrotizing aspergillosis; aspergilloma, or fungus ball; and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. In 24 medical centers, we examined the impact of a culture positive for Aspergillus species on the diagnosis, risk factors, management, and outcome associated with these diseases. Most Aspergillus culture isolates from nonsterile body sites do not represent disease. However, for high-risk patients, such as allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipients (60%), persons with hematologic cancer (50%), and those with signs of neutropenia (60%) or malnutrition (30%), a positive culture result is associated with invasive disease. When such risk factors as human immunodeficiency virus infection (20%), solid-organ transplantation (20%), corticosteroid use (20%), or an underlying pulmonary disease (10%) are associated with a positive culture result, clinical judgment and better diagnostic tests are necessary. The management of invasive aspergillosis remains suboptimal: only 38% of patients are alive 3 months after diagnosis. Chronic necrotizing aspergillosis, aspergilloma, and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis have variable management strategies and better short-term outcomes.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Perfect, JR; Cox, GM; Lee, JY; Kauffman, CA; de Repentigny, L; Chapman, SW; Morrison, VA; Pappas, P; Hiemenz, JW; Stevens, DA; Mycoses Study Group,
Published Date
- December 1, 2001
Published In
- Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
Volume / Issue
- 33 / 11
Start / End Page
- 1824 - 1833
PubMed ID
- 11692293
Pubmed Central ID
- 11692293
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1537-6591
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1086/323900
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States