Table of Contents
What is Eortc MSG?
In 2002, a consensus group of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Invasive Fungal Infections Cooperative Group (EORTC) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Mycoses Study Group (MSG) published standard definitions for invasive fungal infections for clinical and …
What is the epidemiology of aspergillosis?
Aspergillosis has been reported all over the world. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis has been estimated to affect about 1-4 million people worldwide. Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis is estimated to affect about 3 million people worldwide. Invasive aspergillosis is uncommon.
How is invasive aspergillosis treated?
Antifungal medications. These drugs are the standard treatment for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. The most effective treatment is a newer antifungal drug, voriconazole (Vfend). Amphotericin B is another option. All antifungal drugs can have serious side effects, including kidney and liver damage.
What is invasive aspergillosis?
Invasive aspergillosis is the most common mold infection in immunocompromised hosts. This infection is caused by Aspergillus, a hyaline mold that is ubiquitous. Exposure to Aspergillus conidia is frequent, but invasive disease is uncommon because of control by host immunity in nonimmunosuppressed hosts.
How is Aspergillus infection diagnosed?
Healthcare providers may also perform a tissue biopsy, in which a small sample of affected tissue is analyzed in a laboratory for evidence of Aspergillus under a microscope or in a fungal culture. A blood test can help diagnose invasive aspergillosis early in people who have severely weakened immune systems.
How is invasive aspergillosis diagnosis?
What are the two markers associated with invasive aspergillosis?
Several molecules could be used as markers of infection, but two of them are of special interest: Aspergillus galactomannan (GM) and (1 → 3)-β-glucan (BG). GM has a high specificity (above 85%) and a reported sensitivity that varies widely (between 30% and 100%).
Is Galactomannan specific for Aspergillus?
The Aspergillus galactomannan enzyme immunoassay detects polysaccharides that are present in the cell wall of Aspergillus species and that can be found in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid during invasive infection.
What is Aspergillus specific IgE test?
The aspergillus fumigatus allergy blood test measures the amount of allergen-specific IgE antibodies in the blood in order to detect an allergy to aspergillus fumigatus.