Aspergillus species in clinical specimen: a seven year prevalence study from eastern Nepal

Aspergillus species is increasingly being associated with various clinical conditions. The isolation rate however varies from centre to centre owing to the difference in the patient population, the local prevalence of the fungus and the nature of the clinical specimens received in the particular mycology laboratory. The objective of this study was to find the prevalence of Aspergillus species in different clinical specimen submitted in our hospital. Prospective study of the specimens received in mycology laboratory to find the prevalence of Aspergillus species isolated from BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) was done. The overall prevalence of Aspergillus species in clinical samples was 15.06%. Aspergillus species was most frequently isolated (73.21%) from samples from otitis externa. The most number (68/165) of Aspergillus species isolated in this study was from nail samples from cases of onychomycosis. Aspergillus flavus was the commonest species isolated. There was an increasing trend in the isolation rate from 2003 to 2009. This study being the first of its kind from Nepal shows that Aspergillus species is a common pathogen among the spectrum of diseases we encounter here. Mycology laboratories should incorporate reliable, rapid diagnostic tests for early diagnosis as well as antifungal susceptibility tests.