[A study of 152 cases of pulmonary fungal infection: reevaluation of the microbiological spectra].

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the microbiological spectra and clinical outcome of patients with pulmonary fungal infections.

METHODS:

All the cases of clinically diagnosed pulmonary fungal infection from January 2002 to June 2006 were reevaluated according to the definitions of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Mycosis Study Group (EORTC/MSG), and the etiology of the patients were analyzed.

RESULTS:

Pulmonary fungal disease was classified as proven (n = 38), probable (n = 24), possible (n = 35) and colonization (n = 55). In the proven group, the most frequently encountered fungi were Aspergillus species (15/38), followed by Cryptococcus species (13/38), Candida species were rare (2/38). In the probable group, Aspergillus species and Aspergillus species + Candida species were among the most common pathogens; while in the possible group and the colonization group, Candida species were most frequently encountered. The mortality of patients with probable pulmonary fungal infection (58.3%) was higher than that of patients in the possible group (25.7%) or the colonization group (16.4%) (P = 0.001). Univariate analysis showed that only APACHE II score was associated with outcome of patients with "pulmonary Candida infections", and antifungal therapy did not improve the outcome of such patients.

CONCLUSION:

The most frequently encountered fungi in patients with pulmonary fungal infections were Aspergillus species, followed by Cryptococcus species. Primary Candida pulmonary infections were rare.

• Authors: Bin Cao, Bai-Qiang Cai, Hui Wang, Chao-Yang Zhou, Peng Wang, Hong-Rui Liu, Hong Zhang, Ling Xu, Kai-Feng Xu, Wen-Bing Xu, Yuan-Jue Zhu, Xiao-Guang Li
• Journal: Zhonghua jie he he hu xi za zhi = Zhonghua jiehe he huxi zazhi = Chinese journal of tuberculosis and respiratory diseases (Zhonghua Jie He He Hu Xi Za Zhi) Vol. 30 Issue 4 Pg. 279-83 (Apr 2007) ISSN: 1001-0939 [Print] China
• PMID: 17651612 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Aspergillosis (diagnosis)
• Aspergillus (isolation & purification)
• Candida (isolation & purification)
• Candidiasis (diagnosis)
• Cryptococcosis (diagnosis)
• Cryptococcus (isolation & purification)
• Female
• Humans
• Lung Diseases, Fungal (classification, diagnosis, microbiology)
• Middle Aged
• Young Adult