Overview
Aspergillus species are moulds that can cause disease in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised people. The most commonly identified species is Aspergillus fumigatus. Aspergillosis describes an infection with Aspergillus species.
Associations
- Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis – lung infections with invasive Aspergillus often after surgery, transplantation, prolonged corticosteroid therapy, and neutropenia. It can spread via the blood and cause systemic infection.
- Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis – an allergic reaction to Aspergillus leading to features of asthma and bronchiectasis, eosinophilia, and raised serum immunoglobulin E (IgE).
- Aspergilloma – a clump of Aspergillus colonising a lung cavity (e.g. due to cavitating infections such as tuberculosis, cystic fibrosis, sarcoidosis, and lung cancer) causing wheeze, cough, and haemoptysis.
