Renal invasive aspergilloma: unusual infection in AIDS

Invasive aspergillosis is a devastating infection that mainly affects immunocompromised hosts. Nevertheless it is not a common infection in AIDS probably due to specific immune aspects. Even more rare in this group of patients is infection limited to the kidney without dissemination as occurred in our case reported here. He had heroin addiction, AIDS in advanced stage C3, neutropenia and received antifungal prophyllaxis as predisposing factors to aspergillosis. Despite correct therapy with Amphotericine B and drainage of one of the abscesses, he died due to antibiotic side-effects and persistence of not-drained contralateral abscess. Our experience supports the fact that we should have a high index of suspicion for fungal aetiology in kidney infection in AIDS patients with predisposing factors discussed in the text, in order to make early diagnosis and to establish prompt aggressive antifungal therapy supported by drainage of fungus collections, or even nephrectomy if required.