Aspergillosis treatment: Post-operative aspergillosis

Post-operative aspergillosis by Alessandro C. Pasqualotto
Aspergillus is a ubiquitous soil-dwelling organism found in organic debris, water, dust, compost, foods, spices, unfiltered air, ventilation systems, horizontal surfaces, and ornamental or rotted plants (Walsh 1989, Anaissie, 2002). Despite the existence of more than 100 species of Aspergillus, only a few are known to be pathogenic for humans. Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus niger are the most common mould pathogens of humans, causing both life-threatening invasive diseases in immunocompromised patients and allergic diseases in patients with atopic immune systems. Other species, like Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus clavatus, Aspergillus niveus, and Aspergillus nidulans, have rarely been reported to cause disease in humans (Stevens, 2000, Soubani, 2002). The frequency and relative importance of these infections are on the rise in all developed countries, which is most probably related to increased numbers of immunocompromised patients. These increased numbers are because of improved survival from AIDS, more intensive cytotoxic therapy for malignancies, more transplantation for organ dysfunctions, and better therapy and prophylaxis for candidal infections (Stevens, 2000, Marr, 2002). About 4% of patients dying in modern European teaching hospitals have invasive aspergillosis (Groll, 1996, Vogeser, 1997) and it is the leading infectious cause of death in leukaemia and bone marrow transplant patients (Pannuti, 1991). more...
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Post-operative aspergillosis by Alessandro C. Pasqualotto

Aspergillus is a ubiquitous soil-dwelling organism found in organic debris, water, dust, compost, foods, spices, unfiltered air, ventilation systems, horizontal surfaces, and ornamental or rotted plants (Walsh 1989, Anaissie, 2002). Despite the existence of more than 100 species of Aspergillus, only a few are known to be pathogenic for humans. Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus niger are the most common mould pathogens of humans, causing both life-threatening invasive diseases in immunocompromised patients and allergic diseases in patients with atopic immune systems. Other species, like Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus clavatus, Aspergillus niveus, and Aspergillus nidulans, have rarely been reported to cause disease in humans (Stevens, 2000, Soubani, 2002). The frequency and relative importance of these infections are on the rise in all developed countries, which is most probably related to increased numbers of immunocompromised patients. These increased numbers are because of improved survival from AIDS, more intensive cytotoxic therapy for malignancies, more transplantation for organ dysfunctions, and better therapy and prophylaxis for candidal infections (Stevens, 2000, Marr, 2002). About 4% of patients dying in modern European teaching hospitals have invasive aspergillosis (Groll, 1996, Vogeser, 1997) and it is the leading infectious cause of death in leukaemia and bone marrow transplant patients (Pannuti, 1991). more...

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