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Detection of Opportunistic Fungi from the Bronchoalveolar Lavage Specimens of Patients with Pulmonary Diseases

Summary

Researchers examined lung fluid samples from patients with lung diseases to identify fungal infections. They found various types of fungi including Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Pneumocystis using microscopy and laboratory tests. Large numbers of fungi were present in many samples, which could interfere with medicine absorption and treatment. The study shows that quick and accurate identification of these fungi is important for treating lung infections properly.

Background

Opportunistic fungi become active when the immune system is compromised and can multiply in weakened individuals. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is an important diagnostic tool for detecting pulmonary fungal infections. This study evaluated the prevalence of opportunistic fungi in BAL samples from patients with pulmonary diseases.

Objective

To evaluate the number and types of opportunistic fungi in bronchoalveolar lavage samples from patients with pulmonary diseases using direct examination, culture, and molecular methods.

Results

29 (24.1%) patients showed positive direct smears for yeast with mean colony count of 42,000 CFU/mL. Six (5%) species of filamentous fungi were detected including Penicillium species (2.5%), Aspergillus species (1.67%), and Pseudallescheria boydii (0.83%). Seven cases (5.83%) of Pneumocystis cysts were observed in direct smears.

Conclusion

Large numbers of fungal elements were detected in BAL samples which may interfere with drug absorption and treatment outcomes. Rapid diagnosis of fungal infections using morphological and molecular methods is essential for optimizing patient treatment and clinical outcomes.
  • Published in:Advanced Biomedical Research,
  • Study Type:Observational Study,
  • Source: PMID: 37694245, DOI: 10.4103/abr.abr_297_22
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