title: Aspergillus niger infection in patients with haematological diseases: a report of eight cases.
abstract: In this paper we analysed clinical, laboratory characteristics and outcome of patients with haematological diseases who developed an Aspergillus niger infection, in a multicentre study involving 14 Italian Haematological Divisions during a 10-year period. The study recorded 194 consecutive microbiologically documented aspergilloses, eight of which (4%) were due to A. niger, and were observed only in five of the participating centres. The primary localization of infection was lung in seven cases and paranasal sinus in one case. Seven patients died at the end of follow-up. The death was mainly attributable to A. niger progression in six of them. Our study that collected the largest number of cases of A. niger infection in haematological malignancies confirms that this infrequent complication is characterized by a high mortality rate.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Ematologia, Università Cattolica S. Cuore, Roma, Italy. luanafianchi@libero.it
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fianchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Picardi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cudillo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Corvatta
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mele
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trapè
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Girmenia
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pagano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000741:Anemia, Aplastic / Q000150:complications*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000382:microbiology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents