Aspergillus Lung Infections: A Seasonal Risk (original) (raw)

Respiratory infections, 2018

Abstract

Introduction: The incidence of Aspergillus lung infections is increasing in patients with structural lung disease & immune-suppressive conditions for the last few decades. Favourable environmental factors such as temperature and humidity exhibit an influence on the atmospheric concentration of aerosolized fungal spores. Material & Method: Patients with a diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infection growing Aspergillus in their respiratory samples were recruited from the inpatient and the outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital in the study over a period of two years. Results were retrospectively analyzed to find out if any correlation existed between the monsoon season & surge of Aspergillus lung infections. Results: Of the 31 patients recruited in the study, 16 patients had structural lung disease with a majority suffering from bullous lung disease. A higher incidence was observed in patients with multiple comorbidities. Most patients got admitted (n=22) and the predominant symptom was severe refractory cough (n=16). 20% patients had a co-existing bacterial infection. 10 out of 17 patients in 2016 and similarly 10 out of 14 patients in 2017 had positive aspergillus growths during the months of June to August implying that almost 74% patients recruited in the study had aspergillus growths in the monsoon season. Conclusion: Our study suggests that there is a definite surge of Aspergillus lung infections especially in patients with pre-existing lung diseases and multiple comorbidities during the monsoon season. Our study aims at increasing awareness in physicians about pulmonary Aspergillus infections especially in the monsoon season, although a larger study is however warranted to validate the findings.

tarang kulkarni hasn't uploaded this paper.

Let tarang know you want this paper to be uploaded.

Ask for this paper to be uploaded.