Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis: rationale and clinical guidelines for diagnosis and management

Impact of high baseline Aspergillus-specific IgG levels on weight and quality-of-life outcomes of patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of quantitative baseline Aspergillus-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) serum levels on weight changes of patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) under antifungal treatment. We retrospectively reviewed data of patients diagnosed with CPA between April 2015 and March 2018 at the National Aspergillosis Centre (Manchester, UK). All patients were on continued antifungal treatment for 12 months. Data on Aspergillus-specific IgG levels, St George's quality of life (SGQoL) variables and weight at baseline, 6 months and 12 months were extracted. We defined a high serum Aspergillus-specific IgG as ≥ 200 mg/l (Group A) and low level < 200 mg/l (Group B). Forty-nine patients (37 male; 12 female), median age 65 years (range: 29-86) were studied. Overall, 33% (n = 16) of the patients were in Group A. The baseline characteristics between the two groups were similar. The median Charlson comorbidity index was 4 (range: 0-5) and 3 (range: 0-9) for Group A and Group B, respectively (P = .543). There was a sustained decline in median Aspergillus IgG levels from baseline, through 6 month to 12 months of continues therapy from 170 (range: 20-1110) to 121 (range: 20-1126), and finally 107 (15-937) mg/l, respectively (P < .001). Group A patients gained more weight at 6 months (9/15 [60%] vs. 7/33 [21%], P = .012) and at 12 months of treatment (9/15 [60%] vs. 7/33 [22%]), and more patients in Group B lost weight ((13/33 [41%] vs. 1/15 [7%]), P = .015). However, there was no difference in QoL outcomes across groups at 6 (P = .3) and 12 (P = .7) months. A very high Aspergillus IgG may confer a higher likelihood of weight gain as a key, objective marker of clinical response, if patients can tolerate 12 months of antifungal therapy.

Vaccine-Induced Protection in Two Murine Models of Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis

Life-threatening, invasive fungal infections (IFIs) cause over 1.5 million deaths worldwide and are a major public health concern with high mortality rates even with medical treatment. Infections with the opportunistic fungal pathogen, Aspergillus fumigatus are among the most common. Despite the growing clinical need, there are no licensed vaccines for IFIs. Here we evaluated the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of an A. fumigatus recombinant protein vaccine candidate, AF.KEX1, in experimental murine models of drug-induced immunosuppression. Immunization of healthy mice with AF.KEX1 and adjuvant induced a robust immune response. Following AF.KEX1 or sham immunization, mice were immunosuppressed by treatment with either cortisone acetate or hydrocortisone and the calcineurin inhibitor, tacrolimus. To test vaccine efficacy, immunosuppressed mice were intranasally challenged with A. fumigatus conidia (Af293) and weight and body temperature were monitored for 10 days. At study termination, organism burden in the lungs was evaluated by quantitative PCR and Gomori's methanamine silver staining. In both models of immunosuppression, AF.KEX1 vaccinated mice experienced decreased rates of mortality and significantly lower lung organism burden compared to non-vaccinated controls. The lung fungal burden was inversely correlated with the peak anti-AF.KEX1 IgG titer achieved following vaccination. These studies provide the basis for further evaluation of a novel vaccine strategy to protect individuals at risk of invasive aspergillosis due to immunosuppressive treatments.

A simple x-ray scoring system for the diagnosis of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis

BACKGROUND

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a severe form of post-tuberculosis lung disease (PTBLD). Considering the high burden of TB in India, it can be concluded that the prevalence of CPA is also high. Chest x-ray though most feasible, interpretation is subjective. Therefore, decision on evaluation for CPA cannot be based on x-ray alone.

OBJECTIVE

Present study evaluated an x-ray score as a marker for extent of lung damage in patients with PTBLD presenting with haemoptysis and its utility to predict Aspergillus serum IgG levels.

METHODS

We used a modified scoring system developed by Anna Ralph et al X-ray score cut-offs of >71 and 40, with or without history of massive haemoptysis, were compared with serum IgG levels.

RESULTS

With a chest x-ray score cut-off of 71, specificity was 88%. With an x-ray score of >71 combined with history of massive haemoptysis, 86% cases were found to be IgG positive. The specificity of this combination was 96%.

CONCLUSION

This study concluded that a simple chest x-ray scoring system in addition to the symptom of massive haemoptysis helped in the decision on further evaluation of the subject for CPA, especially in resource constrained settings.

Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis in a Patient With AIDS

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is caused by saprophytic fungi Aspergillus spp. Certain conditions predispose individuals to pulmonary aspergilloses, for example, neutropenia, prolonged steroid therapy, immunosuppressive drugs, and solid organ transplants. Individuals are infected with Aspergillus spores by inhalation. CPA is diagnosed through imaging features, such as cavities, fungal balls, peripheral air crescent signs, and the direct visualization of the Aspergillus spp. (microscopy or culture from biopsy) or immunological response to Aspergillus spp. (serum IgG confirms the diagnosis of CPA). All these should be present for at least three months.

An Aspergillus infection is uncommon in those with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) due to intact phagocytic cell function. However, HIV-infected individuals with CD4+ T cell < 100 cells/mL are more likely to experience disease progression. Chronic tubercular cavities predispose one to the colonization of cavities with Aspergillus spp. When HIV advances to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), the aspergilloma transforms into an invasive form.

Performance of LDBio Aspergillus WB and ICT Antibody Detection in Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis

The detection of Aspergillus antibody has a key role in the diagnosis of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. Western blot (WB) and immunochromatography (ICT) lateral flow detection of Aspergillus antibody can be used as confirmatory and screening assays but their comparative performance in TB patients is not known. This study investigated the performance of these assays among 88 post-tuberculosis patients with suspected CPA. Sensitivity, specificity, receiver operating curve (ROC), area under-curve (AUC) and the agreement between two assays were evaluated. Both WB and ICT showed good sensitivity (80% and 85%, respectively) for detection of Aspergillus antibodies. Substantial agreement (0.716) between these assays was also obtained. The highest AUC result (0.804) was achieved with the combination of WB and ICT. The global intensity of WB correlated with the severity of symptoms in CPA group (p = 0.001). The combination of WB and ICT may increase specificity in CPA diagnosis.

Using Artificial Intelligence in Fungal Lung Disease: CPA CT Imaging as an Example

This positioning paper aims to discuss current challenges and opportunities for artificial intelligence (AI) in fungal lung disease, with a focus on chronic pulmonary aspergillosis and some supporting proof-of-concept results using lung imaging. Given the high uncertainty in fungal infection diagnosis and analyzing treatment response, AI could potentially have an impactful role; however, developing imaging-based machine learning raises several specific challenges. We discuss recommendations to engage the medical community in essential first steps towards fungal infection AI with gathering dedicated imaging registries, linking with non-imaging data and harmonizing image-finding annotations.

Prognostic factors of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis: A retrospective cohort of 264 patients from Japan

Background

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) develops in various underlying pulmonary conditions. There is scarce data evaluating interstitial lung disease (ILD)/abnormalities (ILA) as such conditions, and it has not been explored much whether non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) is a prognostic factor for mortality in CPA patients. Few reports had investigated prognostic factors of CPA including underlying pulmonary conditions.

Objectives

To explore prognostic factors of CPA including pulmonary conditions.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 264 CPA patients from a center for pulmonary aspergillosis in Japan.

Results

Survival rates were 78.7%, 61.0%, and 47.4% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Of 264 patients, 53 (20.1%) and 87 (33.1%) were complicated with ILA and NTM-PD. Several independent prognostic factors were identified by multivariate Cox proportional analysis: ILA (HR 1.76, 95%CI 1.06–2.92, p = 0.029), age (1.05, 1.02–1.08, p<0.001), male sex (2.48, 1.34–4.59, p = 0.004), body mass index of <18.5 kg/m² (1,87, 1.20–2.90, p = 0.005), presence of aspergilloma (1.59, 1.04–2.45, p = 0.033), and lower serum albumin (0.56, 0.38–0.83, p = 0.004). NTM-PD was not associated with higher mortality (0.85, 0.52–1.38, p = 0.51).

Conclusions

The poor prognosis of CPA and several prognostic factors were revealed. Early diagnosis and intervention is required with reference to such factors.

Allergic Diseases Caused by Aspergillus Species in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis

Aspergillus spp. are spore forming molds; a subset of which are clinically relevant to humans and can cause significant morbidity and mortality. A. fumigatus causes chronic infection in patients with chronic lung disease such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis (CF). In patients with CF, A. fumigatus infection can lead to allergic disease, such as allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) which is associated with high rates of hospitalizations for acute exacerbations and lower lung function. ABPA results from TH2 immune response to Aspergillus antigens produced during hyphal growth, marked by high levels of IgE and eosinophil activation. Clinically, patients with ABPA experience difficulty breathing; exacerbations of disease and are at high risk for bronchiectasis and lung fibrosis. Oral corticosteroids are used to manage aspects of the inflammatory response and antifungal agents are used to reduce fungal burden and lower the exposure to fungal antigens. As the appreciation for the severity of fungal infections has grown, new therapies have emerged that aim to improve treatment and outcomes for patients with CF.

Comparative Pharmacodynamics of Echinocandins against Aspergillus fumigatus Using an In Vitro Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Model That Correlates with Clinical Response to Caspofungin Therapy: Is There a Place for Dose Optimization?

Echinocandins have been used as primary therapy of invasive aspergillosis (IA), with suboptimal results at standard dosing. Here, we explored the efficacy of dose escalation in a validated in vitro pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model. Six echinocandin wild-type (WT) and three non-WT A. fumigatus isolates were tested in an in vitro PK/PD model simulating anidulafungin, caspofungin, and micafungin exposures with a free drug maximum concentration (fCmax) of 0.01 to 16 mg/liter and a half-life (t1/2) of 8 to 22 h. The relationship between the area under the dosing interval time-free drug concentration curve (fAUC0-24)/minimum effective concentration (MEC) and % aberrant mycelium formation was analyzed. PK/PD indices associated with 50 to 99.99% maximal activity (EI50 to EI99.99) were correlated with the clinical outcome of a 50-mg/day standard dose of caspofungin. The probability of target attainment (PTA) was calculated for different dosing regimens of each echinocandin via Monte Carlo analysis. A sigmoidal PK/PD relationship was found for WT isolates with EI99 values of 766, 8.8, and 115 fAUC0-24/CLSI MEC for anidulafungin, caspofungin, and micafungin, respectively. No aberrant mycelia were observed for non-WT isolates, irrespective of their MEC and drug exposure. The EI99, EI99.9, and EI99.99 values corresponded to 2-, 3-, and 4-log10 formation of aberrant mycelia and correlated with survival, favorable, and complete response rates to caspofungin primary therapy in patients with IA. A very low PTA (<13%) was found for the standard doses of all echinocandins, whereas a PTA of ≥90% was found with 100 and 150 mg/day of caspofungin and 1,400 mg/day micafungin against WT isolates. For anidulafungin, the PTA for 1,500 mg/day was 10%. Among the three echinocandins, only caspofungin at 2 or 3 times the licensed dosing was associated with a high PTA. Caspofungin dose escalation might deserve clinical validation.

Dissection of the Activity of Agricultural Fungicides against Clinical Aspergillus Isolates with and without Environmentally and Medically Induced Azole Resistance

Azole resistance is an emerging problem in patients with aspergillosis. The role of fungicides for resistance development and occurrence is not fully elucidated. EUCAST reference MICs of 17 fungicides (11 azoles and 6 others), five azole fungicide metabolites and four medical triazoles were examined against two reference and 28 clinical isolates of A. fumigatus, A. flavus and A. terreus with (n = 12) and without (n = 16) resistance mutations. Eight/11 azole fungicides were active against wild-type A. fumigatus, A. flavus and A. terreus, including four (metconazole, prothioconazole-desthio, prochloraz and imazalil) with low MIC₅₀ (≤2 mg/L) against all three species and epoxiconazole, propiconazole, tebuconazole and difenoconazole also against wild-type A. terreus. Mefentrifluconazole, azole metabolites and non-azole fungicides MICs were >16 mg/L against A. fumigatus although partial growth inhibition was found with mefentrifluconazole. Moreover, mefentrifluconazole and axozystrobin were active against wild-type A. terreus. Increased MICs (≥3 dilutions) were found for TR₃₄/L98H, TR₃₄⁽³⁾/L98H, TR₄₆/Y121F/T289A and G432S compared to wild-type A. fumigatus for epoxiconazole, propiconazole, tebuconazole, difenoconazole, prochloraz, imazalil and metconazole (except G432S), and for prothioconazole-desthio against TR₄₆/Y121F/T289A, specifically. Increased MICs were found in A. fumigatus harbouring G54R, M220K and M220R alterations for five, one and one azole fungicides, respectively, compared to MICs against wild-type A. fumigatus. Similarly, increased MICs wer found for A. terreus with G51A, M217I and Y491H alterations for five, six and two azole fungicides, respectively. Azole fungicides showed activity against wild-type A. fumigatus, A. terreus and A. flavus, but not against all mutant isolates, suggesting the environmental route of azole resistance may have a role for all three species.

Respiratory Mycoses in COPD and Bronchiectasis

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis represent chronic airway diseases associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Bacteria and viruses are commonly implicated in acute exacerbations; however the significance of fungi in these airways remains poorly defined. While COPD and bronchiectasis remain recognized risk factors for the occurrence of Aspergillus-associated disease including chronic and invasive aspergillosis, underlying mechanisms that lead to the progression from colonization to invasive disease remain uncertain. Nonetheless, advances in molecular technologies have improved our detection, identification and understanding of resident fungi characterizing these airways. Mycobiome sequencing has revealed the complex varied and myriad profile of airway fungi in COPD and bronchiectasis, including their association with disease presentation, progression, and mortality. In this review, we outline the emerging evidence for the clinical importance of fungi in COPD and bronchiectasis, available diagnostic modalities, mycobiome sequencing approaches and association with clinical outcomes.

High Azole Resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus Isolates from Strawberry Fields, China, 2018

In 2018, we conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate azole resistance in environmental Aspergillus fumigatus isolates obtained from different agricultural fields in China. Using 63 soil cores, we cultured for azole-resistant A. fumigatus and characterized isolates by their cyp51A gene type, short tandem repeat genotype, and mating type. Of 206 A. fumigatus isolates, 21 (10.2%) were azole resistant. Nineteen of 21 had mutations in their cyp51A gene (5 TR34/L98H, 8 TR34/L98H/S297T/F495I, 6 TR46/Y121F/T289A). Eighteen were cultured from soil samples acquired from strawberry fields, suggesting this soil type is a potential hotspot for azole resistance selection. Twenty resistant isolates were mating type MAT1-1, suggesting asexual sporulation contributed to their evolution. Prochloraz, difenoconazole, and tebuconazole were the most frequently detected fungicides in soil samples with azole-resistant fungus. Our study results suggest that managing the fungicides used in agriculture will help contain the problem of antifungal drug resistance in clinics.

Predictors of Postoperative Urinary Retention Following Pulmonary Resection

To identify predictors of postoperative urinary retention (POUR) following pulmonary resection. Retrospective chart review from a single academic institution of all patients who underwent pulmonary resection between June 2004 and January 2020. The surgical procedures consisted of pneumonectomy, lobectomy and sublobar resections. The primary outcome was occurrence of POUR within 30 days following surgery, defined as painful and palpable bladder, when the patient is unable to pass any urine, and requiring catheterization. A total of 6004 consecutive patients underwent pulmonary resection among which 306 pneumonectomies (5.1%), 3467 lobectomies (57.7%) and 2231 sublobar resection (37.2%). The surgical approach was a thoracotomy (n = 3546; 59.1%), a video-assisted [VATS] (n = 2075; 34.5%) or a robot-assisted thoracoscopy [RATS] (n = 383; 6.4%). POUR occurred in 301 cases (5%). On multivariable logistic regression analysis, male gender (OR 2.30 [1.70-3.17]; P < 0.001), age (OR 1.02 [1.01-1.03]; P < 0.001), benign prostatic hyperplasia (OR 7.08 [4.57-10.83]; P < 0.001), and COPD (OR 1.52 [1.13-2.01]; P = 0.004) were significant predictors of POUR. Conversely, VATS (OR 0.62 [0.46-0.83]; P = 0.001) had a protective effect on the occurrence of POUR. In a large single-center study, we disclosed significant clinical predictors of POUR after pulmonary resection, including age, sex, comorbidities and surgical approach. Prospective studies are necessary to evaluate the efficacy of chemoprophylaxis by perioperative α-blockers in order to prevent POUR.

Clinical features and prognostic analysis of patients with Aspergillus isolation during acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background

Lower respiratory tract (LRT) specimen culture is widely performed for the identification of Aspergillus. We investigated the clinical features and prognosis of patients with Aspergillus isolation from LRT specimens during acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).

Methods

This is a 6-year single-center, real-world study. 75 cases out of 1131 hospitalized AECOPD patients were positive for Aspergillus. These patients were carefully evaluated and finally diagnosed of pulmonary aspergillosis (PA, 60 cases, 80%) or colonization (15 cases, 20%). Comparisons of clinical data were performed between these two groups. A cox regression model was used to confirm prognostic factors of Aspergillus infection.

Results

The PA group had worse lung function and higher rates of systemic corticosteroid use and broad-spectrum antibiotic use before admission than the colonization group. The PA group had significantly higher in-hospital mortality and 180-day mortality than the colonization group (45% (27/60) vs. 0% (0/15), p = 0.001, and 52.5% (31/59) vs. 6.7% (1/15), p < 0.001, respectively). By multivariable analysis among Aspergillus infection patients, antifungal therapy (HR 0.383, 95% CI 0.163–0.899, p = 0.027) was associated with improved survival, whereas accumulated dose of systemic steroids > 700 mg (HR 2.452, 95% CI 1.134–5.300, p = 0.023) and respiratory failure at admission (HR 5.983, 95% CI 2.487–14.397, p < 0.001) were independently associated with increased mortality. Significant survival differential was observed among PA patients without antifungals and antifungals initiated before and after Aspergillus positive culture (p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Aspergillus isolation in hospitalized AECOPD patients largely indicated PA. AECOPD patients with PA had worse prognosis than those with Aspergillus colonization. Empirical antifungal therapy is warranted to improve the prognosis for Aspergillus infection.

Genetic and Phenotypic Characterization of in-Host Developed Azole-Resistant Aspergillus flavus Isolates

Aspergillus flavus is a pathogenic fungal species that can cause pulmonary aspergillosis, and triazole compounds are used for the treatment of these infections. Prolonged exposure to azoles may select for compensatory mutations in the A. flavus genome, resulting in azole resistance. Here, we characterize a series of 11 isogenic A. flavus strains isolated from a patient with pulmonary aspergillosis. Over a period of three months, the initially azole-susceptible strain developed itraconazole and voriconazole resistance. Short tandem repeat analysis and whole-genome sequencing revealed the high genetic relatedness of all isolates, indicating an infection with one single isolate. In contrast, the isolates were macroscopically highly diverse, suggesting an adaptation to the environment due to (epi)genetic changes. The whole-genome sequencing of susceptible and azole-resistant strains showed a number of mutations that might be associated with azole resistance. The majority of resistant strains contain a Y119F mutation in the Cyp51A gene, which corresponds to the Y121F mutation found in A. fumigatus. One azole-resistant strain demonstrated a divergent set of mutations, including a V99A mutation in a major facilitator superfamily (MSF) multidrug transporter (AFLA 083950).

Molecular Epidemiology of Aspergillus fumigatus in Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis Patients

Molecular fungal genotyping techniques developed and employed for epidemiological studies have understandably concentrated on establishing the genetic diversity of Aspergillus fumigatus in invasive aspergillosis due to its severity, the urgency for treatment, and the need to demonstrate possible sources. Some early studies suggested that these strains were phenotypically, if not genotypically, different from others. However, with improved discrimination and evaluations, incorporating environmental as well as clinical isolates from other Aspergillus conditions (e.g., chronic pulmonary aspergillosis and cystic fibrosis), this premise is no longer upheld. Moreover, with the onset of increased global triazole resistance, there has been a concerted effort to incorporate resistance profiling into genotyping studies and the realisation that the wider population of non-immunocompromised aspergillosis patients are at risk. This review summarises the developments in molecular genotyping studies that incorporate resistance profiling with attention to chronic pulmonary aspergillosis and an example of our UK experience.

Azole Resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus: A Five-Year Follow Up Experience in a Tertiary Hospital With a Special Focus on Cystic Fibrosis

Azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus (ARAf) has emerged worldwide during the last decades. Drug pressure after long term treatments of chronically infected patients and the propagation of environmental clones selected under the pressure of imidazoles fungicides used in agriculture and farming both account for this emergence. The objectives of this study were to determine the rate of azole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus during a 5-year period, taking into account (i) differences between underlying diseases of the patients treated, (ii) cross-resistance between azoles, and (iii) focusing on the 5-year evolution of our center’s cystic fibrosis cohort. Overall, the rates of voriconazole (VRC)-resistant and itraconazole (ITC)-resistant A. fumigatus isolates were 4.1% (38/927) and 14.5% (95/656), respectively, corresponding to 21/426 (4.9%) and 44/308 (14.3%) patients, respectively. Regarding cross-resistance, among VRC-R isolates tested for ITC, nearly all were R (20/21;95%), compared to only 27% (20/74) of VRC-R among ITC-R isolates. The level of azole resistance remained somewhat stable over years but greatly varied according to the azole drug, patient origin, and clinical setting. Whereas azole resistance during invasive aspergillosis was very scarce, patients with cystic fibrosis were infected with multiple strains and presented the highest rate of resistance: 5% (27/539) isolates were VRC-R and 17.9% (78/436) were ITC-R. These results underline that the interpretation of the azole resistance level in Aspergilllus fumigatus in a routine setting may consider the huge variability depending on the azole drug, the clinical setting, the patient background and the type of infection.

Diagnostic accuracy of Aspergillus-specific antibodies for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

We performed this study to provide the latest evidence of the diagnostic accuracy of all Aspergillus antibodies for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA). In this meta-analysis, we searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Embase, and other databases, until 19 March 2020, for studies that examined the diagnostic accuracy of each Aspergillus-specific antibody for CPA and assessed the risk of bias using the revised Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool. We integrated the results using a hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) model and calculated the point estimates of specificity with sensitivity fixed at 0.90 using the HSROC curve. We identified 32 published and one unpublished studies, including 75 studies on five antibody test types: 18 of precipitin test (2810 participants), 46 of IgG (8197), three of IgA (283), six of IgM (733) and two of combined IgG and IgM (IgG + IgM) (920). The results of specificity with sensitivity fixed at 0.90 were as follows: precipitin test, 0.93 (95% credible intervals: 0.86, 1.00); IgG, 0.90 (0.86, 0.95); IgA, 0.74 (0.00, 1.00); IgM, 0.50 (0.37, 0.53); IgG + IgM, 0.47 (0.00, 1.00). However, the precipitin test showed imprecision and instability in the sensitivity analysis. Most studies had a high risk of bias due to the case-control design. Although there is lack of applicability for malignancy or immunosuppressive patients, our study suggests a preference for IgG over other antibody tests in CPA screening. Particularly, IgG should be used as an adjunct when ruling out CPA.

Serology anno 2021-fungal infections: from invasive to chronic

BACKGROUND

Diagnosing invasive or chronic fungal infections is a challenge, particularly in the immunocompromised host. Microscopy and culture remain the reference standard, but are insensitive. The use of non-culture-based techniques is recommended in conjunction with conventional methods to improve the diagnostic yield.

OBJECTIVES

The aim was to provide an updated 2021 inventory of fungal antigen and serology tests for diagnosing invasive and chronic fungal infections, the key focus was set on Aspergillus, Candida and Cryptococcus species.

SOURCES

Pubmed search for publications with the key words fungal antigen tests, laboratory-based diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, invasive candidiasis, invasive fungal infections and cryptococcal infections published from 2017 to 2020.

CONTENT

Antigen assays such as the galactomannan (GM) and β-d-glucan detection systems are frequently used, but these tests vary in sensitivity and specificity, depending on the patient population involved, specimens inspected, cut-offs defined, test strategy applied and inclusion or exclusion of possible fungal case definitions. Multiple different detection systems are available, with recently introduced new point-of-care tests such as the lateral flow device and the lateral flow assay. Despite a wide heterogeneity in populations evaluated, studies indicate a better diagnostic performance of bronchoalveolar lavage GM in comparison with serum GM, and a suboptimal specificity of GM bronchoalveolar lavages (cut-off ≥1) and serum β-d-glucan in non-neutropenic individuals. Point-of-care cryptococcal antigen tests show excellent performance.

IMPLICATIONS

There are fungal antigen detection tests available with excellent to reasonable clinical performance to diagnose invasive fungal infections. Only a few assays are useful to monitor therapeutic response. There are multiple marketed IgG antibody tests to detect Aspergillus fumigatus antibodies, the titres vary widely and the performance differs significantly. In general, diagnostic tests are vulnerable to being affected by the host, the microbe and laboratory setting.

Aspergillus isolation in nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease: Associated with antimycobacterial treatment initiation but not response

PURPOSE

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis is a serious complication of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD), and diagnosis remains challenging. The present study examined associations between the respiratory isolation of Aspergillus and the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with NTM-PD.

METHODS

All patients meeting NTM-PD criteria as defined by the ATS/IDSA statement, with at least one respiratory sample cultured for fungi, were included in this retrospective cohort analysis. Patients with at least one respiratory sample isolating Aspergillus were compared to patients who did not isolate Aspergillus. The primary outcomes were culture conversion and radiologic evolution 12 months after NTM-PD treatment initiation.

RESULTS

During a 12 year period, 497 patients meeting the inclusion criteria were seen in our tertiary care center, of whom 130 grew Aspergillus. Median follow up after NTM-PD diagnosis was 46 months. Inhaled corticosteroid use, a nodular-bronchiectatic CT pattern and NTM-PD treatment initiation were more frequent in patients who isolated Aspergillus compared to those who did not (p-value respectively 0.01, 0.03 and < 0.001). Rates of culture conversion (63.0% vs. 62.2%, respectively; p-value 1) and radiologic evolution (improvement or stability in 69.7% vs. 77.2%, respectively; p-value 0.25) were not significantly different between treatment groups. Likewise, culture reversion rate and 5-year mortality were not significantly different. Additionally, A. fumigatus and repeated detection of Aspergillus were not associated with treatment outcomes.

CONCLUSION

There was no association between respiratory isolation of Aspergillus and NTM-PD treatment outcomes in this cohort. However, treatment for NTM-PD was initiated more frequently in patients who isolated Aspergillus.

Hyperlipidemia Caused by Voriconazole: A Case Report

Voriconazole has been widely used in clinical practice for nearly 20 years. The adverse reactions caused by voriconazole have been reported gradually, such as visual impairment, hepatotoxicity, skin rash. At present, there are few reports about triazole antifungal drugs causing the increase of triglyceride and total cholesterol. Thus, the present study reported a case of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis with significantly increased blood lipids after treatment with voriconazole. In this case, the patient’s total cholesterol was normal, and triglyceride was 2.64 times of the upper limit of the reference value at the time of admission. On the 30th day after oral administration of voriconazole 200mg q12h, triglyceride and total cholesterol were 4.55 times and 3.31 times of the baseline levels, respectively, with the trough concentration of voriconazole of 6.6 μ g/mL. After 28 days of voriconazole withdrawal and itraconazole administration, triglyceride decreased to 1.45 times of baseline level and total cholesterol decreased to the normal range. After another 24 days of treatment with voriconazole 200mg q12h, triglyceride increased again to 3.25 times of the baseline level and cholesterol was within the normal range. At the same time, the trough concentration of voriconazole was 3.2 μ g/mL. After 14 days of treatment with voriconazole 100mg q12h, the triglyceride level recovered to the baseline level, with the trough concentration of voriconazole of 1.5 μ g/mL. The Naranjo′s rating scale was used, the final score was 10 points, indicating that the causal relationship between voriconazole and dyslipidemia was positive, which was likely to be related to the trough concentration of voriconazole.

The Efficacy and Safety of Surgical Treatment for Patients With Tuberculosis Destroyed Lung With or Without Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis

Background

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of surgical treatment of tuberculosis destroyed lung (TDL), and the influence of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) on the outcomes of surgical treatment of TDL.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of 113 patients with TDL who underwent surgical treatment from January 2005 to December 2019. Among them, 30 of these cases were complicated with CPA. The patients were divided into two groups: TDL group and TDL + CPA group. We analyzed the effectiveness and safety of surgical treatment of TDL, and further compared the effectiveness and safety of surgical treatment of TDL with or withoutthe presence of CPA.

Results

The TDL + CPA group had a significantly higher age (P=0.003), symptoms of hemoptysis (P=0.000), and a higher proportion of patients with preoperative serum albumin <30 g/L (P=0.014) as compared with TDL group. For all enrolled patients, the incidence of severe postoperative complications was 12.4% (14/113) and the postoperative mortality within 30 days after discharge was 4.4% (5/113). 86.7% (98/113) of the patients recovered and discharged, the incidence of severe postoperative complications in the TDA + CPA group was higher than that of TDL group (23.3% vs 8.4%, P = 0.034), although there was no difference in mortality between the two groups (P = 1.000). A binary logistic regression analysis showed that the independent risk factors for severe postoperative complications were male (OR 25.24, 95% CI 2.31–275.64; P = 0.008) and age ≥ 40 years (OR 10.34, 95% CI 1.56–68.65; P = 0.016).

Conclusion

Surgical treatment for patients with TDL is effective with an acceptable mortality rate whether or not the disease is complicated with CPA. The independent risk factors identified for severe postoperative complications in patients with TDL were male and ≥ 40 years old. It implies that when treating patients with TDA + CPA, particular attention should be paid to these patients who have these independent risk factors to avoid a poor outcome.

The pathogenesis and diagnosis of sepsis post burn injury

Burn is an under-appreciated trauma that is associated with unacceptably high morbidity and mortality. Although the survival rate after devastating burn injuries has continued to increase in previous decades due to medical advances in burn wound care, nutritional and fluid resuscitation and improved infection control practices, there are still large numbers of patients at a high risk of death. One of the most common complications of burn is sepsis, which is defined as “severe organ dysfunction attributed to host's disordered response to infection” and is the primary cause of death in burn patients. Indeed, burn injuries are accompanied by a series of events that lead to sepsis and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, such as a hypovolaemic state, immune and inflammatory responses and metabolic changes. Therefore, clear diagnostic criteria and predictive biomarkers are especially important in the prevention and treatment of sepsis and septic shock. In this review, we focus on the pathogenesis of burn wound infection and the post-burn events leading to sepsis. Moreover, the clinical and promising biomarkers of burn sepsis will also be summarized.

Association between airflow limitation and prognosis in patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis

Background

Previous studies have shown that reduced levels of lung function, characterized by forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁), are associated with higher respiratory events and mortality in general population and some chronic lung diseases. Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a destructive, fatal lung disease caused by Aspergillus infection in non-immunocompromised patients with suboptimal pulmonary function. However, there is limited information on the status and features of CPA according to FEV₁.

Methods

We performed a retrospective observational study to investigate the FEV₁ and airflow limitation in patients with CPA between March 2017 and February 2019 at a tertiary hospital in South Korea.

Results

Of the 144 CPA patients, 104 underwent spirometry, demonstrating median forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV₁ of 2.35 L (68%) and 1.43 L (62%), respectively. Among them, 56 patients had airflow limitation on PFT, with median FVC, and FEV₁ of 2.47 L (73%) and 1.11 L (47%), respectively. Low body mass index (BMI) (20.1 vs. 22.1 kg/m²; P=0.011), breathlessness (60% vs. 20%; P=0.002), and bilateral pulmonary lesions (33.3% vs. 4%; P=0.006) were more common in patients with moderate to very severe airflow limitation than in those with normal to mild airflow limitation.

Conclusions

Moderate to very severe airflow limitation was observed in 43.3% of patients with CPA. Additionally, low BMI, breathlessness, and bilateral pulmonary lesions contributing to poor prognosis were more common in patients with moderate to very severe airflow limitation than in those with normal to mild airflow limitation. Our findings suggest that airflow limitation can be associated with the prognosis of CPA. Further investigations are needed to demonstrate the clinical significance of this association.

New/Different Look at the Presence of Aspergillus in Mycobacterial Pulmonary Diseases. Long-Term Retrospective Cohort Study

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) has been reported to be associated with poor prognosis in non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM)-pulmonary disease (PD) patients. However, whether isolation of Apergillus species is associated with poor outcome or mostly just the reflection of colonization is a widely debated issue and a yet unsolved question. We conducted this single-centered retrospective cohort study of 409 NTM-PD patients to assess the impacts and prevalence of Aspergillus isolation and CPA development. The median observation time was 85 months. Aspergillus species were isolated from 79 (19.3%) and 23 (5.6%) developed CPA. Isolation of Aspergillus species was not associated with mortality in NTM-PD patients (p = 0.9016). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that higher CRP (p = 0.0213) and AFB stain positivity (p = 0.0101) were independently associated with Aspergillus isolation. Different mycobacterial species were not associated with Aspergillus isolation. Survival curves for patients with CPA diagnosis were significantly and strikingly different from those without (p = 0.0064), suggesting that CPA development severely affects clinical outcome. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the use of systemic steroids (p = 0.0189) and cavity (p = 0.0207) were independent risk factors for the progression to CPA. Considering the high mortality rate of CPA in NTM-PD, early diagnosis and treatment are essential to improve outcomes for NTM-PD patients.

First line treatment selection modifies disease course and long-term clinical outcomes in Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease

The combination of rifamycin (RFP), ethambutol (EB), and macrolides is currently the standard regimen for treatment of Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease (MAC-PD). However, poor adherence to the standardized regimens recommended by current guidelines have been reported. We undertook a single-centred retrospective cohort study to evaluate the long-term outcomes in 295 patients with MAC-PD following first line treatment with standard (RFP, EB, clarithromycin [CAM]) or alternative (EB and CAM with or without fluoroquinolones (FQs) or RFP, CAM, and FQs) regimens. In this cohort, 80.7% were treated with standard regimens and 19.3% were treated with alternative regimens. After heterogeneity was statistically corrected using propensity scores, outcomes were superior in patients treated with standard regimens. Furthermore, alternative regimens were significantly and independently associated with sputum non-conversion, treatment failure and emergence of CAM resistance. Multivariate cox regression analysis revealed that older age, male, old tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus, higher C-reactive protein, and cavity were positively associated with mortality, while higher body mass index and M. avium infection were negatively associated with mortality. These data suggest that, although different combination regimens are not associated with mortality, first line administration of a standard RFP + EB + macrolide regimen offers the best chance of preventing disease progression in MAC-PD patients.

Effect of patient immunodeficiencies on the diagnostic performance of serological assays to detect Aspergillus-specific antibodies in chronic pulmonary aspergillosis

Background

Prevalence of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is ~3 million patients worldwide, and detection of Aspergillus-specific antibody is a critical diagnostic component. Some patients with CPA have subtle immune deficits possibly contributing to poor Aspergillus antibody production and false negative results.

Materials/methods

We analyzed patient data from 167 cases of clinically confirmed CPA previously evaluated by ImmunoCAP Aspergillus-specific IgG EIA, Bordier ELISA and LDBio Aspergillus IgG/IgM ICT lateral flow assay, to identify deficiencies in: mannose binding lectin (MBL), IgG, IgA, IgM, IFN gamma, IL12 or IL17 production, and/or low cell marker counts (CD4, CD19, CD56). We defined patients as ‘sero-negative’ if ImmunoCAP Aspergillus IgG was consistently and repeatedly negative (<40 mg A/L). ‘Sero-positive’ was defined as all other CPA cases.

Results

We found the rate of false negatives by ImmunoCAP Aspergillus IgG EIA (n = 23) to be more prevalent in patients with immunodeficiency markers, especially multiple defects. MBL deficiency combined with low CD19 cells (p < 0.001), pneumococcal antibody levels (p = 0.043), IgM (p = 0.047) or three combined (p = 0.001–0.018) or all four together (p = 0.018) were significant. The performance LDBio Aspergillus IgG/IgM ICT appears to be relatively unaffected by immunodeficiency (92.7% of ImmunoCap sero-negatives were positive). The Bordier assay performed significantly better than the ImmunoCAP assay (P = 0.0016) for sero-negative CPA cases.

Conclusions

In select cases of CPA, ImmunoCAP EIA yields a false negative result, making serological diagnosis difficult. ImmunoCAP false negatives are more prevalent in patients with multiple immunological defects, who may still be positive with the LDBio Aspergillus ICT or Bordier EIA.

•

Low or undetectable Aspergillus IgG is associated with, usually, several minor immunological defects.

•

Aspergillus IgG/IgM lateral flow assay is more sensitive than ImmunoCAP for CPA with or without subtle immunodeficiency.

•

CPA patients may have Aspergillus IgG detectable with different assays.

Selection of Oral Antifungals for Initial Maintenance Therapy in Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis: A Longitudinal Analysis

BACKGROUND

There are limited data for direct comparisons of the efficacy of oral itraconazole (ITCZ) and oral voriconazole (VRCZ) therapy in the treatment of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, follow-up, observational study of CPA patients enrolled in 2 previous multicenter trials.

RESULTS

Of the 273 CPA patients, 59 and 101 patients started maintenance therapy with oral ITCZ and oral VRCZ, respectively, just after the end of acute intravenous therapy in each trial. At the end of the observation period in this follow-up study (median observation period, 731 days), the percentage of patients who showed improvement was lower in the ITCZ group than in the VRCZ group (18.2% vs 40.0%). However, after including stable patients, the percentages were 50.9% and 52.6%, respectively, in the ITCZ and VRCZ groups, which were not significantly different (P = .652). Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed no significant influence of the choice of initial maintenance treatment (ITCZ or VRCZ) on overall mortality as well as CPA-associated mortality. Multivariable logistic regression showed that oral ITCZ selection for initial maintenance therapy was an independent risk factor for hospital readmission and switching to other antifungal agents (odds ratio [OR], 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-7.5 and OR, 5.7; 95% CI, 2.0-15.7, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Oral VRCZ for initial maintenance therapy showed better effectiveness than oral ITCZ for clinical improvement in CPA patients. There was no difference in crude mortality between initial maintenance therapy with VRCZ and ITCZ, especially in elderly CPA patients.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION

UMIN000007055.

Post-Tuberculosis Lung Disease: Clinical Review of an Under-Recognised Global Challenge

An estimated 58 million people have survived tuberculosis since 2000, yet many of them will suffer from post-tuberculosis lung disease (PTLD). PTLD results from a complex interplay between organism, host, and environmental factors and affects long-term respiratory health. PTLD is an overlapping spectrum of disorders that affects large and small airways (bronchiectasis and obstructive lung disease), lung parenchyma, pulmonary vasculature, and pleura and may be complicated by co-infection and haemoptysis. People affected by PTLD have shortened life expectancy and increased risk of recurrent tuberculosis, but predictors of long-term outcomes are not known. No data are available on PTLD in children and on impact throughout the life course. Risk-factors for PTLD include multiple episodes of tuberculosis, drug-resistant tuberculosis, delays in diagnosis, and possibly smoking. Due to a lack of controlled trials in this population, no evidence-based recommendations for the investigation and management of PTLD are currently available. Empirical expert opinion advocates pulmonary rehabilitation, smoking cessation, and vaccinations (pneumococcal and influenza). Exacerbations in PTLD remain both poorly understood and under-recognised. Among people with PTLD, the probability of tuberculosis recurrence must be balanced against other causes of symptom worsening. Unnecessary courses of repeated empiric anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy should be avoided. PTLD is an important contributor to the global burden of chronic lung disease. Advocacy is needed to increase recognition for PTLD and its associated economic, social, and psychological consequences and to better understand how PTLD sequelae could be mitigated. Research is urgently needed to inform policy to guide clinical decision-making and preventative strategies for PTLD.

Opaque hemithorax - An interesting case

OBJECTIVE

To present an interesting case of left opaque hemithorax in an adult female and discuss its assessment and management.

METHODS

Design: Case Report.

SETTING

Tertiary care hospital.

PATIENT

One.

RESULTS

44yrs retropositive female admitted with complaints of acute onset dry cough since 15-20 days, sudden breathlesness since 5 days which was progressive in nature, left sided heaviness in chest since 5 days. CECT Thorax showed complete collapse of left lung with cut off of left main bronchus while video bronchoscopy showed left main bronchus completely blocked with very thick necrotic mass and was difficult to dislodge. Debulking with cryo probe was done and left main bronchus was completely cleared off. Allergen panel showed very high serum IgE, high S.IgE against aspergillus and high specific S.IgG against aspergillus. Patient and her Chest X-ray showed significant improvement post cryo debulking and was discharged satisfactorily on oral voriconazole therapy.

CONCLUSION

Endobronchial aspergillosis is characterized by massive intrabronchial overgrowth of the aspergillus species, mainly aspergillus fumigatus. Most patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, including those with simple aspergillomas and Aspergillus nodules, have positive Aspergillus IgG antibodies in the blood. We hereby present a case of 44 yrs female presenting with complaints of dry cough and dyspnea and was diagnosed with endobronchial aspergillosis with complete obliteration of left main bronchus by fungal debris in which cryo debulking was done which relieved the symptoms significantly and was discharged in satisfactory condition on oral voriconazole therapy.

Specific and sensitive, ready-to-use universal fungi detection by visual color using ITS1 loop-mediated isothermal amplification combined hydroxynaphthol blue

Being ubiquitous, fungi are common opportunistic pathogens to humans that can lead to invasive and life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals. Eukaryote-resembling cell membrane and filamentous branches make the fungal diagnosis difficult. This study therefore developed a ready-to-use ITS1 loop-mediated isothermal amplification combined with hydroxynaphthol blue (LAMP-HNB) for rapid, sensitive and specific colorimetric detection of universal fungi in all phyla. The ITS1 LAMP-HNB could identify every evolutionary phylum of fungi according to sequence analyses. We tested a total of 30 clinically relevant fungal isolates (representing three major human pathogenic phyla of fungi, namely Zygomycota, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota) and 21 non-fungal isolates, and the ITS1 LAMP-HNB properly identified all isolates, with a detection limit of as low as 4.6 ag (9.6 copies), which was identical to ITS1 and 18S rDNA PCR. The assays were also validated on the feasibility of point-of-care diagnostic with real food (dry peanuts, chili and garlics) and blood samples. Furthermore, the shelf life of our ready-to-use ITS1 LAMP activity (≥50%) was more than 40 days at 30 °C with 3-5% polyvinyl alcohol or glycerol additive. The results supported the ready-to-use ITS1 LAMP-HNB for simple detection of fungi contamination with high sensitivity in local and resource-constrained areas to prevent opportunistic fungal species infections.

The burden of serious fungal infections in Azerbaijan

BACKGROUND

Azerbaijan is an upper middle-income country in South Caucasus with an area of 86,600 km2 and a total population of 10 million people and gross domestic product of US $4480 per capita. The aim of this research is to estimate fungal infection burden and highlight the problem at national and international levels.

METHODS

Fungal infection burden was estimated using data from epidemiological papers and population at risk and LIFE (Leading International Fungal Education) modelling.

RESULTS

The number of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) in 2018 was 6193, 29% of them not receiving antiretroviral therapy. Based on 90% and 20% rates of oral and oesophageal candidiasis in patients with CD4 cell count <200 µl-1 we estimate 808 and 579 patients with oral and oesophageal candidiasis, respectively. The annual incidences of cryptococcal meningitis and Pneumocystis pneumonia are 5 and 55 cases, respectively. We estimated 2307 cases of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA), 4927 patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), and 6504 with severe asthma with fungal sensitization (SAFS). Using data on chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), lung cancer, acute myeloid leukaemia rates, and number of transplantations, we estimated 693 cases of invasive aspergillosis following these conditions. Using a low-European rate for invasive candidiasis, we estimated 499 and 75 patients with candidemia and intra-abdominal candidiasis respectively. The number of adult women (15-55 years) in Azerbaijan is ~2,658,000, so it was estimated that 159,490 women suffer from recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (rVVC).

DISCUSSION

In total, the estimated number of people suffering from fungal diseases in Azerbaijan is 225,974 (2.3% of the population). However, the fungal rate is underestimated due to lack of epidemiological data. The most imminent need is improvement in diagnostic capabilities. This aim should be achieved via establishing a reference laboratory and equipping major clinical centers with essential diagnostics assays.

Sensitization to A fumigatus in subjects with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis

BACKGROUND

Patients with chronic lung diseases, including cystic fibrosis (CF), are frequently sensitized to Aspergillus fumigatus. Whether patients with non-CF bronchiectasis develop sensitization to A fumigatus remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the prevalence of sensitization and chronic infection with A fumigatus in subjects with bronchiectasis. We also performed a multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify factors predicting sensitization and chronic A fumigatus infection.

METHODS

Subjects with bronchiectasis were investigated with serum A fumigatus-specific IgE and IgG, and sputum cultures for bacteria, fungus and mycobacteria. We defined A fumigatus sensitization and chronic A fumigatus infection as serum A fumigatus-specific IgE and IgG > 0.35 kUA/L and >27 mgA/L, respectively. We excluded subjects with bronchiectasis secondary to allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.

RESULTS

We included 258 subjects (TB [n = 155], idiopathic [n = 66] and other causes [n = 37]) with bronchiectasis. The prevalence of Aspergillus sensitization, chronic Aspergillus infection, and both sensitization and chronic infection was 29.5% (76/258), 76% (196/258) and 26% (68/258), respectively. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, TB-related bronchiectasis was an independent risk factor for Aspergillus sensitization. Chronic Aspergillus infection was predicted by the duration of symptoms and specific aetiologies (tuberculosis and idiopathic) of bronchiectasis. The growth of Aspergillus species was also frequent in the TB group compared with other causes (32% vs 2%; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

We found a significant occurrence of Aspergillus sensitization and chronic infection in non-CF bronchiectasis, especially in TB bronchiectasis. In addition to Aspergillus sensitization, investigations for chronic Aspergillus infection should be routinely performed in non-CF bronchiectasis, both at diagnosis and during follow-up.

Isavuconazole Therapeutic Drug Monitoring during Long-Term Treatment for Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis

Isavuconazole is the newest triazole antifungal, and it displays a favorable pharmacokinetic and safety profile. Less is known about its long-term use in immunocompetent hosts. We performed a retrospective service evaluation of isavuconazole therapeutic drug monitoring in patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. Adverse events (AEs) and dose adjustments made during routine clinical practice were recorded, and AEs were classified based on Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v5.0. Forty-five patients (mean age, 64 years) had 285 isavuconazole blood drug levels measured (mean level, 4.1 mg/liter). A total of 117 measurements (41%) were performed on patients on a 100-mg daily dose instead of 200 mg, and all had blood levels of >1 mg/liter. Age (P = 0.012) and a daily dose of 200 mg versus 100 mg (P = 0.02) were independent predictors of levels of >6 mg/liter. AEs were recorded for 25 patients (56%). The mean drug level at the first measurement was 5.5 ± 2 mg/liter for patients reporting AEs, compared with 4.2 ± 1.7 mg/liter for those not reporting AEs (P = 0.032). The cutoff threshold best predictive of an AE was 4.6 mg/liter (area under the concentration-time curve, 0.710). Sixteen patients (36%) discontinued isavuconazole therapy due to AEs. Twenty-six patients (58%) continued on isavuconazole beyond 6 months. Asthma (P = 0.022) and a daily dose of 200 mg versus 100 mg (P = 0.048) were associated with AEs of grade 2 or higher. A reduced daily dose (100 mg versus 200 mg) of isavuconazole resulted in satisfactory drug levels in a substantial number of patients; it was better tolerated and enabled continuation of therapy for prolonged periods.

Pulmonary Aspergillosis: Spectrum of Disease

Aspergillus species are ubiquitous in the environment. Aspergillosis is acquired by inhalation of Aspergillus spores. In normal hosts, spore inhalation rarely causes lung disease. Pulmonary Aspergillosis covers a wide spectrum of clinical syndromes depending on the interaction between Aspergillus and the host (immune-status, prior bronchopulmonary disease). It runs the gamut from invasive Aspergillosis to Aspergillus bronchitis. Invasive Aspergillosis usually occurs in severely immunocompromised patients, typically in neutropenic but also in non-neutropenic patients. Chronic pulmonary Aspergillosis affects patients with chronic structural lung disease such as COPD or previous mycobacterial lung disease, but without other significant immunocompromise. Aspergillus bronchitis affects patients with bronchial disease such as bronchiectasis. Allergic bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis affects patients with bronchial asthma or cystic fibrosis, and is due to an allergic response to Aspergillus.

Microbiome dysbiosis in lung cancer: from composition to therapy

The correlations between microbiota dysbiosis and cancer have gained extensive attention and been widely explored. As a leading cancer diagnosis worldwide, lung cancer poses a great threat to human health. The healthy human lungs are consistently exposed to external environment and harbor a specific pattern of microbiota, sharing many key pathological and physiological characteristics with the intestinal tract. Although previous findings uncovered the critical roles of microbiota in tumorigenesis and response to anticancer therapy, most of them were focused on the intestinal microbiota rather than lung microbiota. Notably, the considerable functions of microbiota in maintaining lung homeostasis should not be neglected as the microbiome dysbiosis may promote tumor development and progression through production of cytokines and toxins and multiple other pathways. Despite the fact that increasing studies have revealed the effect of microbiome on the induction of lung cancer and different disease status, the underlying mechanisms and potential therapeutic strategies remained unclear. Herein, we summarized the recent progresses about microbiome in lung cancer and further discussed the role of microbial communities in promoting lung cancer progression and the current status of therapeutic approaches targeting microbiome to alleviate and even cure lung cancer.

Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis Following Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infections: An Emerging Disease

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) following nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease is being increasingly recognized, especially in countries where tuberculosis is not endemic, with an incidence rate of 3.9–16.7%. NTM lung disease has been identified as a predictor of mortality in CPA patients. The major risk factors for NTM-associated CPA include fibrocavitary NTM lung disease, the presence of pulmonary emphysema, and high-dose corticosteroid use. The onset of CPA is 1.5–7 years following the diagnosis of NTM lung disease. The diagnosis can be made using standard criteria; however, serological diagnosis using Aspergillus precipitin has demonstrated a higher sensitivity and specificity when compared with fungal culture from respiratory specimens. Treatment is challenging since rifampicin and oral triazoles should not be used concomitantly. The prognosis is poor, and the factors associated with worse prognosis are corticosteroid use and high C-reactive protein level.

Drug-Resistant Fungi: An Emerging Challenge Threatening Our Limited Antifungal Armamentarium

The high clinical mortality and economic burden posed by invasive fungal infections (IFIs), along with significant agricultural crop loss caused by various fungal species, has resulted in the widespread use of antifungal agents. Selective drug pressure, fungal attributes, and host- and drug-related factors have counteracted the efficacy of the limited systemic antifungal drugs and changed the epidemiological landscape of IFIs. Species belonging to Candida, Aspergillus, Cryptococcus, and Pneumocystis are among the fungal pathogens showing notable rates of antifungal resistance. Drug-resistant fungi from the environment are increasingly identified in clinical settings. Furthermore, we have a limited understanding of drug class-specific resistance mechanisms in emerging Candida species. The establishment of antifungal stewardship programs in both clinical and agricultural fields and the inclusion of species identification, antifungal susceptibility testing, and therapeutic drug monitoring practices in the clinic can minimize the emergence of drug-resistant fungi. New antifungal drugs featuring promising therapeutic profiles have great promise to treat drug-resistant fungi in the clinical setting. Mitigating antifungal tolerance, a prelude to the emergence of resistance, also requires the development of effective and fungal-specific adjuvants to be used in combination with systemic antifungals.

Parasexual recombination enables Aspergillus fumigatus to persist in cystic fibrosis

Aspergillus fumigatus is a saprobic fungus that causes a range of pulmonary diseases, some of which are characterised by fungal persistence such as is observed in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Creation of genetic variation is critical for A. fumigatus to adapt to the lung environment, but biofilm formation, especially in CF patients, may preclude mutational supply in A. fumigatus due to its confinement to the hyphal morphotype. We tested our hypothesis that genetic variation is created through parasexual recombination in chronic biofilms by phenotypic and genetic analysis of A. fumigatus isolates cultured from different origins.

As diploids are the hallmark of parasex, we screened 799 A. fumigatus isolates obtained from patients with CF, chronic pulmonary lung disease and acute invasive aspergillosis, and from the environment for spore size. Benomyl sensitivity, nuclear content measurements through fluorescence-activated cell sorting and scanning electron microscopy were used to confirm the diploid state of large size spores. Whole genome sequencing was used to characterise diploid-associated genetic variation.

We identified 11 diploids in isolates recovered from six of 11 (55%) CF patients and from one of 24 (4%) chronic aspergillosis patients, but not in 368 isolates from patients with acute Aspergillus infection and the environment. Diploid formation was associated with accumulation of mutations and variable haploid offspring including a voriconazole-resistant isolate.

Parasexual recombination allows A. fumigatus to adapt and persist in CF patients, and plays a role in azole resistance development. Our findings are highly significant for understanding the genetics and biology of A. fumigatus in the human lung.

Aspergillus fumigatus can undergo parasexual recombination in the lungs of chronically colonised individuals. This is highly relevant, as the parasexual cycle can facilitate genetic variation and, consequently, in-host adaptation.https://bit.ly/3kAtrXd

Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Post Tuberculosis Patients in Indonesia and the Role of LDBio Aspergillus ICT as Part of the Diagnosis Scheme

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a common sequela of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The diagnosis of CPA is difficult and often misdiagnosed as smear-negative TB in endemic settings. Aspergillus IgG detection is the cornerstone of CPA diagnosis. There are a lack of studies on the prevalence of CPA in GeneXpert/smear-negative TB patients in Indonesia, despite a high number of TB cases. This study aims to determine the CPA rate in HIV-negative, GeneXpert-negative patients presenting with symptoms following completion of TB therapy and to evaluate the performance of LDBio Aspergillus immunochromatographic technology (ICT) lateral flow assay in the diagnosis of CPA. CPA was diagnosed on the basis of symptoms for ≥3 months, characteristic chest imaging and positive Aspergillus culture. Twenty (22%) out of 90 patients met the criteria for CPA. The LDBio test was positive in 16 (80%) CPA patients and in 21 (30%) non-CPA patients (p < 0.001) with 80% sensitivity and 70% specificity. Logistic regression revealed a positive LDBio Aspergillus ICT result, smoking history and diabetes to be important predictors of CPA diagnosis. Although CPA is an unrecognised disease in Indonesia, this study suggests that more than one in five GeneXpert negative patients with persistent symptoms following completion of TB therapy may have CPA.

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Fungal Infections: One-Year Experiences of a Center of Expertise in Mycology

Invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) often represent complicated infections in complex patient populations. The Center of Expertise in Mycology Radboudumc/CWZ (EMRC) organizes a biweekly multidisciplinary mycology meeting to discuss patients with severe fungal infections and to provide comprehensive advice regarding diagnosis and treatment. Here, we describe the patient population discussed at these meetings during a one-year period with regards to their past medical history, diagnosis, microbiological and other diagnostic test results and antifungal therapy. The majority of patients discussed were adults (83.1%), 62.5% of whom suffered from pulmonary infections or signs/symptoms, 10.9% from otorhinolaryngeal infections and/or oesophagitis, 9.4% from systemic infections and 9.4% from central nervous system infections. Among children, 53.8% had pulmonary infections or signs/symptoms, 23.1% systemic fungal infections and 23.1% other, miscellaneous fungal infections. 52.5% of adult patients with pulmonary infections/symptoms fulfilled diagnostic criteria for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA). Culture or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) demonstrated fungal pathogens in 81.8% of patients, most commonly Aspergillus. A multidisciplinary mycology meeting can be a useful addition to the care for patients with (I)FDs and can potentially aid in identifying healthcare and research needs regarding the field of fungal infections. The majority of patients discussed at the multidisciplinary meetings suffered from pulmonary infections, predominantly CPA.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis Development during Long-Term Follow-Up after Lung Cancer Surgery

Lung resection surgery for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is reportedly a risk factor for developing chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA). However, limited data are available regarding the development of CPA during long-term follow-up after lung cancer surgery. This study aimed to investigate the cumulative incidence and clinical factors associated with CPA development after lung cancer surgery. We retrospectively analyzed 3423 patients with NSCLC who (1) underwent surgical resection and (2) did not have CPA at the time of surgery between January 2010 and December 2013. The diagnosis of CPA was based on clinical symptoms, serological or microbiological evidences, compatible radiological findings, and exclusion of alternative diagnoses. The cumulative incidence of CPA and overall survival (OS) were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method, and a multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis was performed to identify factors associated with CPA development. Patients were followed-up for a median of 5.83 years with a 72.3% 5-year OS rate. Fifty-six patients developed CPA at a median of 2.68 years after surgery, with cumulative incidences of 0.4%, 1.1%, 1.6%, and 3.5% at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years, respectively. Lower body mass index (BMI), smoking, underlying interstitial lung disease, thoracotomy, development of postoperative pulmonary complications 30 days after surgery, and treatment with both chemotherapy and radiotherapy were independently associated with CPA development. The cumulative incidence of CPA after surgery was 3.5% at 10 years and showed a steadily increasing trend during long-term follow-up. Therefore, increased awareness regarding CPA development is needed especially in patients with risk factors.

Prevalence of invasive aspergillosis in suspected pulmonary tuberculosis at a referral tuberculosis hospital in Shandong, China

Although the progression of invasive aspergillosis (IA) shares some risk factors in the development of active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), however, the prevalence of IA in suspected PTB remains unclear. During a period of 1 year (from January 2016 to December 2016), consecutive patients with suspected PTB were included in a referral TB hospital. Data, including demographic information and underlying diseases, were collected from medical records. PTB were all confirmed by mycobacterial culture (Lowenstein–Jensen medium). IA were diagnosed as proven or probable according to the criteria of the 2008 EORTC/MSG definitions. A descriptive analysis was performed to estimate the corresponding prevalence. During the study year, 1507 patients have a positive mycobacterial culture, with a mean age of 45.6 (s.d. 19.9) years old and a female:male ratio of 1:4. Among the 82 patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial diseases, two patients (2.44%, 95% CI 0.67–8.46%) were diagnosed as IA (one proven and one probable); two probable IA patients (0.15%, 95% CI 0.04–0.55%) were diagnosed in PTB patients (n = 1315), and all were retreatment cases. In addition, all four IA patients (100%) exhibited cavities in both lobes on radiograph. In China, the prevalence of IA is low in active PTB patients. However, when high-risk factors for IA are encountered in PTB patients, further investigations are required and empirically treatment for IA might be warranted.