ABSTRACT
Aspergillosis refers to infection with any of the >150 recognized species of the genus Aspergillus. These are in mould form in the environment, on artificial media, and when invading tissues. Aspergilli are the second most common of the fungi infecting immunocompromised hosts, but are the most common cause of mortality caused by invasive mycoses in the USA, these infections, moreover, are increasing in frequency relative to Candida infections, possibly because of success with prophylactic regimens for the latter mycoses. In 1996, annual hospital costs associated with aspergillosis were estimated to be >US $633 million in the USA (1).
