Clinical presentation of invasive aspergillosis

Invasive aspergillosis has increasingly been recognised to cause significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Fever unresponsive to broad-spectrum antibiotics is the earliest and most common sign of an invasive fungal infection. As invasive Aspergillus infections are usually acquired by inhalation of Aspergillus conidia, symptoms of a pulmonary infection such as cough, rales and marked pleuritic chest pain can be noted early in the course, whereas hemoptysis typically comes late after neutrophil recovery. Aspergillus infections of the upper respiratory tract may also involve the nasal cavity or sinuses resulting in nasal obstruction, epistaxis, facial pain, periorbital swelling and even palate destruction. Primary cutaneous infections present as non-purulent ulcerations and may be seen in association with implantable intravenous devices. Other sites of infections, such as the central nervous system, originate from dissemination of molds and may be suspected when focal neurological findings or meningism develop. The recognition of symptoms associated with invasive aspergillosis in patients at risk should prompt further diagnostic procedures, as an early diagnosis and immediate institution of antifungal therapy might improve the treatment outcome in this life-threatening condition.