Aspergillosis: from diagnosis to prevention

Description

Aspergillosis is an infection or allergic response caused by the fungus Aspergillus. Aspergillus conidia are widely dispersed in the environment and can easily reach human lungs and/or paranasal sinuses: most people inhale Aspergillosis spores every day! The label Aspergillosis is used for several diverse clinical conditions. For instance, invasive Aspergillosis typically affects severely immunocompromised patients such as those with prolonged neutropenia or receiving therapy with steroids. On the other hand, allergic forms of Aspergillosis cause exuberant clinical syndromes that mostly affect patients with asthma and cystic fibrosis. Slowly destructive lung diseases may also occur in the apparently immunocompentent host, especially in the context of previous damage to the lung architecture. These are difficult-to-diagnose infections, and diagnostic tests perform differently depending on the specific scenario. This book summarizes the current knowledge about Aspergillosis, covering: Epidemiology PathogenesisClinical manifestationsDiagnosisTreatment Prevention Written by internationally respected authors, the information presented in this book adds for a better understanding of Aspergillosis by providing a comprehensive and clear overview of all aspects associated with this complex disease. Front Matter....Pages i-xvii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Introduction....Pages 3-5 Differences and Similarities Amongst Pathogenic Aspergillus Species....Pages 7-32 Immunology of Aspergillus and Aspergillosis: The Story So Far....Pages 33-52 The Importance of Conventional Methods: Microscopy and Culture....Pages 54-73 Molecular Methods for Identification of Aspergillus Species....Pages 75-85 The Pathology of Aspergillus Infection....Pages 87-104 Galactomannan Testing....Pages 105-124 β-D-Glucan Testing....Pages 125-133 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-Based Tests....Pages 135-157 Aspergillus Precipitins and Serology....Pages 159-169 Specific IgE Testing (RAST)....Pages 171-176 Molecular Typing of Aspergillus fumigatus Isolates....Pages 177-191 Antifungal Susceptibility Tests of Aspergillus Species....Pages 193-215 Antifungal Therapeutic Drug Monitoring for Invasive Aspergillosis....Pages 217-228 Azoles....Pages 230-262 Echinocandins....Pages 263-279 Polyene Antifungal Agents....Pages 281-305 5-Flucytosine....Pages 307-315 Terbinafine....Pages 317-325 Front Matter....Pages 327-327 Epidemiology of Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis....Pages 329-344 Front Matter....Pages 327-327 Pathogenesis of Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis....Pages 345-379 Clinical Manifestations of Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis....Pages 381-389 Diagnosing Aspergillosis: The Role of Invasive Diagnostic Interventions....Pages 391-405 Optimising the Use of Non-invasive Tests: From Blood to Radiology....Pages 407-422 Defining Invasive Aspergillosis: What the Revised EORTC/MSG Definitions Have in Store....Pages 423-435 Treatment of Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis....Pages 437-448 Antifungal Prophylaxis in Haematology....Pages 449-457 Invasive Aspergillosis in Paediatric Patients....Pages 460-483 Invasive Aspergillosis in the Intensive Care Unit: Beyond the Typical Haematological Patient....Pages 485-503 Aspergillosis in Surgical Patients....Pages 505-525 Invasive Aspergillosis in Chronic Granulomatous Disease....Pages 527-543 Aspergillosis in Drug Addicts....Pages 545-558 Invasive Aspergillosis and HIV Infection....Pages 559-566 Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients....Pages 567-581 Front Matter....Pages 583-583 Chronic Cavitary Pulmonary Aspergillosis and Fungal Balls....Pages 585-620 Pathogenesis of Chronic Cavitary Pulmonary Aspergillosis: The Importance of the Host Immune System....Pages 621-642 Current Surgical Strategies for Chronic Cavitary Pulmonary Aspergillosis....Pages 643-651 Front Matter....Pages 655-655 Overview of Aspergillus Allergens....Pages 655-669 Epidemiology of Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis....Pages 671-688 ABPA as an Occupational Disease....Pages 689-693 Front Matter....Pages 655-655 Pathogenesis of ABPA....Pages 695-706 Clinical Manifestations and Natural History of Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis....Pages 707-724 How to Diagnose Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis....Pages 725-745 The Treatment of ABPA....Pages 747-759 Severe Asthma with Fungal Sensitisation (SAFS)....Pages 761-775 Front Matter....Pages 777-777 Aspergillus Sinusitis....Pages 779-814 Front Matter....Pages 815-815 Aspergillus Overlap Syndromes....Pages 817-831 Front Matter....Pages 833-833 Cerebral Aspergillus Infections and Meningitis....Pages 835-852 Osteoarticular and Epidural Infections....Pages 853-862 Aspergillosis of the Digestive Tract....Pages 863-887 Cardiac Aspergillosis....Pages 889-903 Aspergillus Thyroiditis....Pages 905-911 Aspergillus Endophthalmitis....Pages 913-929 Urinary Tract Infections Caused by Aspergillus Species....Pages 931-937 Cutaneous and Wound Aspergillosis....Pages 939-959 Onychomycosis Due to Aspergillus Species....Pages 961-971 Aspergillus Keratitis....Pages 973-998 Aspergillus Otitis....Pages 999-1006 How to Diagnose Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis....Pages E1-E23 Back Matter....Pages 1-21