ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis as well as diagnosis of other syndromes caused by Aspergillus clinical isolates, along with the risk factors, clinical manifestations, and current resistance mechanisms. Aspergillus enters the body through a break in the skin and causes infection, usually in people who have weakened immune systems. Cutaneous aspergillosis can also occur if invasive aspergillosis spreads to the skin from somewhere else in the body, such as the lungs. Definitive diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis or chronic necrotizing Aspergillus pneumonia depends on identification of the organism in tissue samples. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is characterized pathologically by mucoid impaction of the bronchi, eosinophilic pneumonia, and bronchocentric granulomatosis in addition to the histologic features of asthma. Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis typically occurs in people who have other lung diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, besides non-cancerous and inflammatory illnesses like tuberculosis or sarcoidosis.
