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Histological Quantification to Determine Lung Fungal Burden in Experimental Aspergillosis
09:52

Histological Quantification to Determine Lung Fungal Burden in Experimental Aspergillosis

Published on: March 9, 2018

Pulmonary aspergillosis

George R Thompson1, Thomas F Patterson

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, USA.

Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
|March 28, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Pulmonary aspergillosis is increasing in immunocompromised patients, including those with prolonged neutropenia and HIV/AIDS. Effective antifungal therapy requires understanding the full spectrum of Aspergillus-related disease, as diagnosis remains challenging.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pulmonology

Background:

  • Rising incidence of pulmonary aspergillosis in immunocompromised patient populations.
  • Increasing numbers of patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell or lung transplantation.
  • Growing prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the increasing challenge of pulmonary aspergillosis.
  • To emphasize the need for appropriate antifungal therapy selection and duration.
  • To address diagnostic difficulties in identifying Aspergillus infections.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on pulmonary aspergillosis.
  • Analysis of the spectrum of disease caused by Aspergillus species.
  • Evaluation of the role of emerging antifungal agents.

Main Results:

  • Pulmonary aspergillosis incidence is rising due to expanding at-risk populations.
  • Aspergillus infections present a wide spectrum, from colonization to disseminated disease.
  • Antifungal agent efficacy depends on understanding the full disease spectrum.

Conclusions:

  • Pulmonary aspergillosis poses a significant and growing threat.
  • Appropriate and timely antifungal treatment is crucial for patient outcomes.
  • Diagnostic limitations necessitate improved sensitivity and specificity of testing methods.

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