title: Aspergillus spondylodiscitis in solid organ transplant recipients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transplantation practices have had a significant effect on the epidemiology of invasive Aspergillosis. Aspergillus spondylodiscitis is rare in transplant recipients. The optimal treatment has yet to be defined because of the rarity of such cases. This article reviews the available literature on Aspergillus spondylodiscitis in solid organ transplant recipients and provides recommendations on its management.
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified 15 cases of Aspergillus spondylodiscitis in transplant recipients. Most patients were heart transplant recipients. Back pain was the mode of presentation in all patients. Most cases were afebrile. The dominant location was the lumbar spine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aspergillus fumigatus was responsible for 84.62% of cases and A flavus for 15.38%. The overall recovery rate was 66.67%. Delay in diagnosis remained a major impediment to the successful treatment of spinal aspergillosis. Treatment included antifungal therapy alone or combined with surgery. Initial therapy with voriconazole could lead to better curative effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined medical and operative interventions are recommended for treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: X-F
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Z-D
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: L-Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Dai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015299:Discitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents