Aspergillosis

 

Clinical Features In immunosuppressed hosts: invasive pulmonary infection, usually with fever, cough, and chest pain. May disseminate to other organs, including brain, skin and bone. In immunocompetent hosts: localized pulmonary infection in persons with underlying lung disease. Also causes allergic sinusitis and allergic bronchopulmonary disease. Etiologic Agent Aspergillus fumigatus, A. flavus. Less commonly A. terreus, A. nidulans, A. niger. Reservoir Ubiquitous in the environment. Found in soil, decomposing plant matter, household dust, building materials, ornamental plants, items of food, and water. Incidence Not reportable. Population-based data available for San Francisco suggest a rate of 1-2 per 100,000 per year. Sequelae If severe granulocytopenia persists, mortality rate can be very high (up to 100% in patients with cerebral abscesses). Patient outcome depends on resolution of granulocytopenia and early institution of effective antifungal drug therapy. Transmission Inhalation of airborne conidia (spores). Nosocomial infection may be associated with dust exposure during building renovation or construction. Occasional outbreaks of cutaneous infection traced to contaminated biomedical devices. Risk Groups Persons with severe, prolonged granulocytopenia (e.g., hematologic malignancy, hematopoietic stem cell and solid organ transplant recipients, and patients on high-dose corticosteroids). Rarely, persons with HIV infection. Surveillance No national surveillance exists. Active surveillance is being conducted among hematopoietic stem cell and solid organ transplant recipients in selected U.S. hospitals. Challenges Identifying modifiable risk factors for disease in immunocompromised persons. Improving understanding of sources and routes of transmission from the environment. Developing sensitive and specific methods for earlier diagnosis. Opportunities Development of rapid antigenemia and antigenuria tests and molecular probes may facilitate earlier clinical diagnosis. Availability of improved molecular typing methods may assist in epidemiologic studies. December 2003