INVASIVE ASPERGILLOSIS IN IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PATIENTS

Last year, approximately 200 articles on Aspergillus and aspergillosis were published. About 25% of these are reviewed here, focusing primarily on clinical aspects rather than basic science. Many new data on the incidence of invasive aspergillosis have been reported. Useful summaries of the state of-the-art with respect to prophylaxis and empiric therapy have been presented. The literature has also included new clinical experience, especially in bone marrow transplant and AIDS patients. Early reports using molecular techniques for diagnosis have been published, with sensitivities of up to 100% in some studies, although specificity may be a problem in colonized patients. Important advances in understanding neutrophil-Aspergillus interactions with and without supplemented granulocyte-colony stimulating factor and interferon-gamma have emerged, although there is little new information on treatment.