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Essential Oils
Published in Bakrudeen Ali Ahmed Abdul, Microbial Biofilms, 2020
Mohd Sajjad Ahmad Khan, Mohd Musheer Altaf
Aspergillosis is the range of ailments caused by members of the genus Aspergillus. Majority of these invasive infections are produced by Aspergillus fumigatus. The second common species is Aspergillus flavus followed by Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus terreus (Krishnan et al. 2009). Aspergillosis primarily includes allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), invasive aspergillosis (IA) and pulmonary aspergilloma, and its occurrence prevails mainly in immunocompromised patients (Dagenais and Keller 2009). About 1%–2% of asthmatic patients may develop ABPA, and it has been discovered that 15% of asthmatic patients may be colonized by A. fumigatus, whereas, 7%–35% of cystic fibrosis patients suffer ABPA (Krasnick et al. 1995; Moss 2007). Aspergilloma, a fungus ball, appears in prior established pulmonary cavities resulted from tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, or other bullous lung disorders (Ma et al. 2011). Transplant recipients are at the highest risk of invasive aspergillosis. About 2%–26% of hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients and 1%–15% of organ transplant recipients develop Aspergillus infections. IA could occur in 5%–25% of acute leukemics, 5%–10% of patients with allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT) and 0.5%–5% of patients undergoing cytotoxic treatment of blood infections and solid-organ transplantation (Latge 1999; Singh and Paterson 2005; Fuqua Jr et al. 2010).
Biological Hazards
Published in W. David Yates, Safety Professional’s Reference and Study Guide, 2020
Aspergillosis is a disease caused by Aspergillus. Farmers and grain workers are the primary occupations of concern regarding aspergillosis. There are many different kinds of aspergillosis. One kind is allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (also called ABPA), a condition where the fungus causes allergic respiratory symptoms, such as wheezing and coughing, but does not actually invade and destroy tissue. Another kind of aspergillosis is invasive aspergillosis, a disease that usually affects people with immune system problems. In this condition, the fungus invades and damages tissues in the body. Invasive aspergillosis most commonly affects the lungs but can also cause infection in many other organs and can spread throughout the body.17
Infection in the Hematopoeitic Stem Cell Transplant Recipient with Autoimmune Disease
Published in Richard K. Burt, Alberto M. Marmont, Stem Cell Therapy for Autoimmune Disease, 2019
Valentina Stosor, Teresa R. Zembower
Recipients of autografts for SADS generally receive manipulated autografts and/or intensive conditioning regimens such that prophylactic antifungal therapy with fluconazole is warranted from the time of conditioning until engraftment,3 or longer. Fluconazole prophylaxis reduces the incidence of both superficial fungal in fections and candidemia in HSCT recipients.168,169 The major pitfall of widespread fluconazole use has been a shift in the epidemiology of candidal infections to fluconazole-resistant species such as C. glabrata and C. krusei, or even fluconazole-resistant C. albicans.114,169,171 While specific guidelines for antifungal prophylaxis against invasive molds are not available, some centers prefer prophylactic antifungal agents with activity directed against Aspergillus sp. throughout the periods of risk, especially in higher risk patients groups, such as those with SLE. Agents such the lipid-based formulations of amphotericin, caspofungin, itraconazole and voriconazole are approved for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis, but data regarding their efficacies as prophylactic agents are not yet available.
Aspergillus collected in specific indoor settings: their molecular identification and susceptibility pattern
Published in International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 2021
Daniela Simões, Liliana Aranha Caetano, Cristina Veríssimo, Carla Viegas, Raquel Sabino
Aspergillus is a widely distributed genus, found in diverse natural and artificial habitats, such as water, air, soil and vegetation (Hubka et al. 2017). These fungi can produce mycotoxins and a high amount of small conidia easily dispersed in the air. Aspergillus species are associated with several health problems, like mycotoxicosis, allergies, asthma, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, aspergilloma, necrotizing aspergillosis and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (Dudakova et al. 2017). The frequency of these fungal respiratory infections has been more frequently reported during the last decades because of an increasing life expectancy of immunocompromised patients, cystic fibrosis patients (Nasri et al. 2019). The genus Aspergillus has been reported as one of the most prevalent fungi in asthmatic patients’ houses, as well as in several highly contaminated occupational environments (like waste industry, poultries and plant production), increasing the potential risk of developing respiratory symptoms (Sharpe et al. 2015; Viegas et al. 2017).
Occupational CNS aspergillosis in an immunocompetent individual a diagnostic challange
Published in Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health, 2018
Parul Punia, Nidhi Goel, Ishwar Singh, Uma Chaudhary
Aspergillus species is one of the most ubiquitous of the airborne saprophytic fungus and is frequently isolated from the laboratory. It's prime importance lies in immune-compromised patients where it can cause disease, ranging from primarily pulmonary infections to dissemination anywhere in the body. Central nervous system (CNS) aspergillus is a rare entity in immunocompetent patients of which only few cases have been reported. Infections of the CNS occurs via hematogenous routes with the primary focus usually being the lungs or sometimes through direct extension from the paranasal sinuses.1 Invasive aspergillosis (IA) occurs in patients with risk factors including prolonged neutropenia, neutrophil dysfunction, patient on cytotoxic drugs, steroid therapy, any hematological malignancy, AIDS or in patients with bone marrow transplantation.1 A recently documented risk factor for (IA) is the exposure to environmental aspergillus spores at construction sites.2 It has been seen that settled spores of aspergillus can survive in the environment for long periods. During activities of construction or demolition, the spores get dispersed in the environment and lead to contamination of the air. The inhalation of these spores can cause disease particularly in the immune-compromised people but is relatively rare in immune-competent individuals. We report here a case of primary CNS aspergillosis in an immunocompetent person working in an area with excessive ongoing construction who was timely diagnosed and successfully treated with broad spectrum antifungals, thus highlighting the importance of keeping this differential diagnosis in mind even in individuals with no immunodeficiency. It also highlights the need to take precautions while working at construction sites.
Aspergillus prevalence in air conditioning filters from vehicles: Taxis for patient transportation, forklifts, and personal vehicles
Published in Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health, 2019
Carla Viegas, Ricardo Moreira, Tiago Faria, Liliana Aranha Caetano, Elisabete Carolino, Anita Quintal Gomes, Susana Viegas
Aspergillus genus is widespread in the environment and human exposure to Aspergillus species is common. This genus is found in soil, dust, and decomposing organic matter and the conidia are often found in outdoor air.1–4 Over the past 20 years, fungal infections of the lung, especially bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, have become increasingly common.5–6 However, only a few well-known species are considered as important opportunistic pathogens in humans.2,3 Thus, although there are more than 200 known species among the genus, only a small number is associated with infections in humans.7 Polyphasic taxonomy has had a major impact on species definition among Aspergillus genus. The designations actually refer to sections (or complexes) of closely related species (also referred to as cryptic species) that cannot be clearly distinguished morphologically.8 The genus has been subdivided into 22 distinct sections: Aspergilli, Fumigati, Circumdati, Terrei, Nidulantes, Ornati, Warcupi, Candidi, Restricti, Usti, Flavipedes, and Versicolores comprising clinically relevant species,8,9 with the most relevant sections being Fumigati, Flavipedes, Nigri and Terrei.10–12 The infection mechanism during aspergillosis has been addressed in numerous studies, with airborne infection by inhalation of Aspergillus conidia being a common assumption. However, the role of both Aspergillus load and duration of exposure to Aspergillus conidia in infection remain unclear.13 In addition, the incidence of azole resistance in Aspergillus species has increased over the past years, essentially for Aspergillus section Fumigati.14 Fungi from this section are the major cause of life threatening invasive aspergillosis (IA).15