Invasive Aspergillus niger complex infections in a Belgian tertiary care hospital

Area of Science:

• Medical Mycology
• Infectious Diseases
• Clinical Microbiology

Background:

• Invasive fungal infections pose a significant threat, particularly in hospital settings.
• The Aspergillus niger species complex is a known cause of aspergillosis.
• Understanding the specific species involved and their antifungal susceptibility is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of invasive infections caused by the Aspergillus niger species complex.
• To identify the specific species within the A. niger complex causing invasive disease.
• To assess the antifungal susceptibility profiles of the identified species.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of invasive infection cases.
• Epidemiological data collection from a Belgian university hospital (2005-2011).
• Molecular typing of Aspergillus isolates (2010-2011).

Main Results:

• The incidence of invasive infections by the A. niger complex was 0.043 cases per 10,000 patient-days.
• Molecular typing identified Aspergillus tubingensis in five out of six invasive isolates.
• Aspergillus tubingensis demonstrated higher triazole minimal inhibitory concentrations compared to other species.

Conclusions:

• Aspergillus tubingensis is a significant component of invasive infections attributed to the A. niger complex.
• The higher triazole resistance of A. tubingensis may impact treatment strategies for invasive aspergillosis.
• Further investigation into the clinical implications of A. tubingensis infections is warranted.