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Data analysis of patients with positive mould or dimorphic fungal cultures from sterile sites

Summary

This study examined 48 patients with serious mould and fungal infections at a South African hospital between 2014-2017. Most infections occurred in people with weak immune systems, especially those with HIV. The most common fungal type was Aspergillus. Even with appropriate antifungal medicines, one-quarter of patients died, highlighting how serious these infections can be.

Background

Moulds and dimorphic fungi are increasingly recognized as important pathogens causing high morbidity and mortality in critically ill and immunocompromised patients. The lack of surveillance data limits understanding of these infections. This study analyzed fungal infections at a tertiary hospital in South Africa.

Objective

To determine the distribution, patient characteristics, risk factors, therapy and treatment outcomes in patients with positive mould or dimorphic fungal cultures from sterile sites at a tertiary hospital in central South Africa.

Results

Forty-eight patient records were analyzed with equal gender distribution and mean age of 40.5 years. Aspergillus spp. were most commonly isolated, with HIV infection as the most common underlying condition. Twenty-six patients received treatment; overall mortality rate was 25.0% despite appropriate antifungal therapy in many cases.

Conclusion

Fungal infection diagnosis remains challenging, with moulds and dimorphic fungi causing serious infections particularly in at-risk patients with HIV being the most common risk factor. Despite treatment with appropriate antifungal agents, the associated mortality rate of 25.0% was still high, highlighting the need for clinical correlation and specialist consultation.
  • Published in:South African Journal of Infectious Diseases,
  • Study Type:Retrospective Observational Descriptive Study,
  • Source: PMID: 39229306, DOI: 10.4102/sajid.v39i1.630
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