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. 2015 Sep;1(3):45-51.
doi: 10.18869/acadpub.cmm.1.3.45.

Aspergillus colonization in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

M Shahi  1 , S A Ayatollahi Mousavi  1 , M Nabili  2 , M Aliyali  3 , S Khodavaisy  4   5 , H Badali  6
Affiliations

Aspergillus colonization in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

M Shahi et al. Curr Med Mycol. 2015 Sep.

Abstract

Background and purpose: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been recognized as a risk factor for invasive aspergillosis. Airway colonization by Aspergillus species is a common feature of chronic pulmonary diseases. Nowadays, the incidence of COPD has increased in critically ill patients. The aim of the present study was to isolate and identify Aspergillus colonies in the respiratory tract of COPD patients.

Materials and methods: This study was performed on 50 COPD patients, who were aged above 18 years, and were in intensive care units of three hospitals in Sari, Iran, for at least six days. All the samples obtained from sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage, and tracheal aspirates were cultured for fungi each week. According to the conventional techniques, Aspergillus isolates were initially based on growth and standard morphological characteristics. To confirm the identification of grown Aspergillus, the partial beta-tubulin gene was sequenced using specific primers.

Results: A total of 50 patients, who met our inclusion criteria, were enrolled in the study during 2012-14. The results showed that 27 (54%) and 23 (46%) of the participants were male and female, respectively. The majority of the patients developed dyspnea followed by hemoptysis, chest pain, and high fever. Corticosteroids and broad-spectrum antibacterial agents were administered to 75% and 80% of the patients, respectively. Based on the conventional and molecular approaches, A. fumigatus (seven cases; 43.7%), A. flavus (five cases; 31.2%), A. niger (one case; 6.2%), A. terreus (one case; 6.2%), A. orezea (one case; 6.2%), and A. tubingensis (one case; 6.2%) were recovered.

Conclusion: Recovery of Aspergillus species from the respiratory tract of COPD patients with pneumonia indicates two possibilities: either colonization or invasive aspergillosis.

Keywords: Aspergillus; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Sequence Analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Frequency of filamentous and yeast fungi in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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