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Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis among patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia and influenza in ICUs: a retrospective cohort study

Wei-Chun Lee, Che-Chia Chang, Meng-Chin Ho, Chieh-Mo Lin, Shaw-Woei Leu, Chin-Kuo Lin, Yu-Hung Fang, Shuihua Huang et al.

Pneumonia, 2024

252 participants · 12 citations

Abstract

Rationale The prevalence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in intensive care units remain underestimated because of the lack of a disease-recognition scheme and the inadequacy of diagnostic tests. Objectives To identify the prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of severe CAP complicated with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in intensive care units (ICUs). Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study including recruited 311 ICU-hospitalized patients with severe CAP without influenza or with influenza. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples were from all patients and subjected to mycological testing. Patients were categorized as having proven or probable Aspergillus infection using a modified form of the AspICU algorithm comprising clinical, radiological, and mycological criteria. Measurements and main results Of the 252 patients with severe CAP and 59 influenza patients evaluated, 24 met the diagnostic criteria for proven or probable Aspergillus infection in the CAP group and 9 patients in the influenza group, giving estimated prevalence values of 9.5% and 15.3%, respectively. COPD and the use of inhaled corticosteroids were independent risk factors for IPA. IPA in patients with severe CAP was significantly associated with the duration of mechanical support, the length of ICU stay, and the 28-day mortality. Conclusions An aggressive diagnostic approach for IPA…

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Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 252 participants or records.

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