ABSTRACT

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is an infection rarely seen in intensive care units (ICU). We aimed to discuss the case of IPA found in a patient followed up in our ICU due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A 58-year old patient diagnosed with COPD has been admitted to our ICU due to respiratory failure. There were not any other diseases except from COPD. In his radiological imaging there were diffuse bilateral infiltrates in the chest X-ray and diffuse infiltration in the thorax tomography. Aspergillus spp was isolated in the bronchoalveolar lavage sample from patient and caspofungin was added to the treatment. On the 12th day of the treatment, it was observed that the results of the control radiological imaging became normal and there was no isolation in the control cultures. In recent years, fungal infections have been determined at an increasing rate in the patients who are not immunosuppressed and hospitalized in ICU. In the IPA cases, it has been shown that such underlying causes as diabetes, malnutrition, use of steroid, uremia, cirrhosis and COPD may create risk. Our patient did not have other disease except from COPD and there was a story of prolonged using of steroid. Steroids are quite frequently used in the ICUs. In the patients with chronic pulmonary diseases, even if it is low dose and short-term, the treatment of steroid is accepted as a risk factor in terms of IPA. Since signs and symptoms are atypical in this group of patients, it is rather difficult to diagnose IPA in the short term. The isolation of aspergillus in our patient’s tracheal aspirate taken earlier enabled us to start the treatment early. Although there are not comprehensive studies, it should be kept in mind that İPA may develop in the patients who is using long-term steroid, is admitted to the ICUs due to COPD exacerbations without any other disease.

Keywords: Aspergillosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, steroid