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Review
. 2025 Jan 17;11(1):70.
doi: 10.3390/jof11010070.

Invasive Aspergillosis in the Intensive Care Unit

Anna Zubovskaia  1 , Jose A Vazquez  1
Affiliations
Review

Invasive Aspergillosis in the Intensive Care Unit

Anna Zubovskaia et al. J Fungi (Basel). .

Abstract

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a fungal infection, which has traditionally been associated with neutropenia and immunosuppressive therapies. Our understanding of invasive aspergillosis has been evolving and, in the past few decades, IA among ICU patients has been recognized as a common infection and has become more widely recognized. The diagnosis and management of invasive aspergillosis in the ICU is particularly challenging, due to the unstable clinical condition of the patients, lack of diagnostic markers, increased risk of further clinical deterioration, multiple comorbidities, and a need for early assessment and treatment. In this article, we will discuss the challenges and pitfalls of the diagnosis and management of invasive aspergillosis in an ICU setting, along with a review of the current literature that is pertinent and specific to this population.

Keywords: antifungals; aspergillosis; intensive care unit; invasive aspergillosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

A.Z.: None; J.A.V. Consultant for Melinta, F2G, Scynexis, Basilea, the author declares no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Aspergillus in tissue, Grocott Methenamine stain (×250). (b) Aspergillus in tissue, H&E stain (×400).
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis on HRCT. “Halo” sign. (b) Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis on HRCT. “Air crescent sign”. (HRCT = High-resolution Cat Scan).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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