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Updated: May 30, 2026
Detection of Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Haematological Malignancy Patients by using Lateral-flow Technology
Published on: March 22, 2012
Hospital environment and invasive aspergillosis in patients with hematologic malignancy
Linda D Lee1, Ray Y Hachem, Matthew Berkheiser
1Department of Administrative Facilities and Campus Operations, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Background:
To determine whether there is a correlation between sources of Aspergillus spores in a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA)-filtered environment and nosocomial invasive aspergillosis (IA), we performed a detailed environmental assessment and case review.
Methods:
From April to October 2004, 626 bioaerosol samples, 1,257 surface samples, and 607 water samples were obtained from 74 HEPA-filtered air hospital rooms occupied by 458 patients with hematologic malignancies. Samples were collected prospectively from the room before and after cleaning within 1 hour of patient admission or discharge. Aspergillus spp was isolated from 21 surface samples and 46 bioaerosol samples. Interestingly, Aspergillus spp was not isolated from any water samples.
Results:
Aspergillus spp was isolated from 21 surface samples and 46 bioaerosol samples. Interestingly, Aspergillus spp were not isolated from any water samples. The majority (90%) of the positive bioaerosol samples had ≤ 10 colony-forming units of Aspergillus/m3 of air. Only 2 patients developed nosocomial IA. No correlations were found between Aspergillus species isolated from the hospital rooms and those causing IA.
Conclusion:
The risk of hematologic malignancy patients acquiring nosocomial aspergillosis from water or HEPA-filtered air is very low.
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