Clinical insights into invasive aspergillosis among immunosuppressed patients: A single-centre experience from Argentina.

Abstract

Background: Invasive aspergillosis poses a significant threat to immunocompromised individuals. Diagnostic criteria incorporating biomarkers and imaging have improved diagnosis, and treatment options have expanded. However, in Argentina, diverse patient demographics and environmental factors add complexity to managing this infection.

Aims: This study aims to explore the epidemiology, diagnostic methods, and treatment of invasive aspergillosis in an Argentine hospital setting.

Methods: We collected data from patients with suspected invasive aspergillosis at a tertiary care hospital in Central-Northern Argentina. Variables included demographics, underlying conditions, diagnostic criteria, treatment, and outcomes.

Results: With a median age of 44.5 years and a 51% of male patients, our institution conducted invasive aspergillosis screenings on 192 patients, many of whom were battling malignancies (90%). One third of them had the infection set as probable or possible. Imaging (31%) and positive microbiological results (16%) were examples of diagnostic evidence. With an overall mortality rate of 15%, half of the patients got antifungal treatment for a median of seven days. Mortality among the diagnosed patients was 22%. Patients without stem-cell transplantation had a high death rate (31%), although this difference was not statistically significant; in patients having pulmonary nodules (15%) the death rate was not statistically significant either. There were no discernible variations in mortality according to the type of treatment received.

Conclusions: Our study reveals that invasive aspergillosis remains a significant issue in high-risk patients, and has a notable mortality rate, particularly among those patients with pulmonary nodules. Computed tomography provides a high diagnostic yield.