Aspergillosis is an infection caused by a type of mold. The illnesses resulting from aspergillosis infection usually affect the respiratory system, but their signs and severity vary greatly. The mold that triggers the illnesses, Aspergillus, is everywhere, indoors and outdoors. Most strains of this mold are harmless, but a few can cause serious illnesses when people with weakened immune systems, underlying lung disease or asthma inhale their spores.
Forms of Aspergillosis
There are several forms of aspergillosis:
Allergic pulmonary aspergillosisis an allergic reaction to the fungus. This infection usually develops in people who already have lung problems such as asthma or cystic fibrosis.
Aspergilloma is a growth (fungus ball) that develops in an area of past lung disease or lung scarring such as tuberculosis or lung abscess.
Invasive pulmonary aspergillosisis a serious infection with pneumonia. It can spread to other parts of the body. This infection occurs most often in people with a weakened immune system. This can be from cancer, AIDS, leukemia, an organ transplant, chemotherapy, or other conditions or drugs that lower the number or function of white blood cells or weaken the immune system.
Pathophysiology
Upon inhalation of the conidia, the underlying host defenses determine the fate of the organism. Immunocompetent hosts with intact ciliary clearance promptly eliminate the organism from the respiratory tract.
The early immune defense is provided by pulmonary macrophages that attempt to phagocytose and destroy the conidia. When conidia survive, germination leads to hyphae (filamentous form), which invades the pulmonary parenchyma. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes phagocytose the swollen conidia and hyphae.
During the invasion, interaction occurs between Aspergillus ligands and the pattern recognition receptors, including Toll-like receptors (TLR) and Dectin, on macrophages leading to the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Fever is the resultant clinical manifestation.
Causes
The illness is the result of a combination of exposure to the Aspergillus fungus and a weak immune system. The following may carry the fungus:
Compost piles
Stored Grain
Marijuana leaves
Decaying vegetation
Risk factors
Allogeneic stem cell transplantation
Prolonged severe neutropenia (>10 days)
Immunosuppressive therapy
Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD)
Solid organ transplantation (SOT)
Acute leukemia
Aplastic anemia
Pre-existing cavity (aspergilloma)
Advanced chronic lung disease
Primary immunodeficiency
HIV infection
Diabetes mellitus
Cystic fibrosis
Severe burns
Malnutrition
Multiple myelomas
Immunocompetent patients
Age >55 years
Smoking
Symptoms of Aspergillosis
Symptoms usually depend on the type of infection:
Symptoms of allergic pulmonary aspergillosis may include:
A cough
Coughing up blood or brownish mucus plugs
Fever
General ill feeling (malaise)
Wheezing
Weight loss
Other symptoms depend on the part of the body affected, and may include:
Bone pain
Chest pain
Chills
Decreased urine output
Headaches
Increased phlegm production, which may be bloody
Shortness of breath
Skin sores (lesions)
Vision problems
Complications
Life-threatening hemoptysis
Disseminated infection
Severe hypoxia
Obstructive pneumonia
Pericarditis
Diagnosis and Test
Imaging test
A chest X-ray or computerized tomography (CT) scan – a type of X-ray that produces more-detailed images than conventional X-rays do – can usually reveal a fungal mass (aspergilloma), as well as characteristic signs of invasive and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.
Aspergillosis Precipitin Test
Aspergillus precipitin detects the type and quantity of specific Aspergillus antibodies in the blood. Antibodies are immunoglobulin proteins made by the immune system in response to harmful substances called antigens. An antigen is a substance that your body recognizes as a threat. One example is an invading microorganism such as Aspergillus.
Biopsy.
In some cases, examining a sample of tissue from your lungs or sinuses under a microscope may be necessary to confirm a diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis.
Treatment and medications
Treatment options include oral corticosteroids, antifungal medications, and surgery.
Oral corticosteroid drugs: Solid or liquid oral medications may be prescribed to treat allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. These drugs reduce inflammation and prevent respiratory symptoms. Some of the drugs are prednisone, prednisolone, and methylprednisolone.
Antifungal drugs: These medications are generally used to treat invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Voriconazole is currently the drug of choice because it causes fewer side effects and appears to be more effective than other medications. Amphotericin B or itraconazole is also effective in treating the infection. Caspofungin is sometimes used in cases where the infection is resistant to the other antifungals.
Surgery:
Surgery may be necessary in cases when aspergillomas are present and cause serious problems, such as excessive bleeding. Antifungal medications are usually not effective against aspergillomas, so surgery is recommended.
Prevention
It is best to avoid locations with excessive amounts of dust or mold, such as construction sites or compost piles.
People with weakened immune systems or mold allergies should avoid activities such as gardening or lawn mowing.
If exposure to airborne dust or mold is likely, considering wearing a face mask or N95 mask.
In some cases, your doctor might recommend the use of an antifungal medicine to prevent infection.