[Mycological surveillance of children with cystic fibrosis]

Abstract

The mycological surveillance included 121 patients aged 1 to 21 years treated from 1981 to 1987 in the Centre of Cystic Fibrosis in Dresden. The control groups comprised 136 resp. 140 healthy children aged 1 to 16 years. The study evaluated the incidence of fungi in the oral cavity, bronchial secreta, sputum, faeces and urine as well as the specific serum antibodies to Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus in correlation to the course of the cystic fibrosis and the applied chemotherapy. The study pointed out a parallel run concerning the progression of the clinical manifestation of the basic disease, the duration of the required chemotherapy and the mycological findings indicating more and more pathological levels. The mycological results of the children with a moderate course of cystic fibrosis were conformable to the findings of the children of the control groups. Systemic candidosis or aspergillosis were not seen. Because patients suffering from cystic fibrosis are predisposed for infections with fungi, especially with Aspergillus fumigatus, the authors recommend a mycological surveillance of these patients depending on the clinical course of cystic fibrosis: once in twelve months for patients with mild symptoms and every third month for patients with severe symptoms.