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Clinical significance of lower respiratory tract Aspergillus culture in elderly hospitalized patients

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Abstract

In order to evaluate the clinical significance of Aspergillus-positive culture results from the lower respiratory tract specimens of elderly hospitalized patients, and to identify the clinical variables that differentiate between colonization and infection with Aspergillus spp. in this patient population, a retrospective study was conducted. The records of 66 elderly patients whose lower respiratory tract specimens yielded Aspergillus spp. between January 1995 and July 2000 were examined. The majority of the patients (n=61) were determined to be colonized with Aspergillus spp., and serious lung infection due to Aspergillus spp. was rare. Clinical, radiological, and microbiological data did not help differentiate between infection and colonization.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Harper University Hospital, 3990 John R-3 Hudson, Detroit, MI 48201, USA

    A. O. Soubani, G. Khanchandani & H. P. Ahmed

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  1. A. O. Soubani
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  2. G. Khanchandani
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  3. H. P. Ahmed
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Correspondence to A. O. Soubani.

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Soubani, A.O., Khanchandani, G. & Ahmed, H.P. Clinical significance of lower respiratory tract Aspergillus culture in elderly hospitalized patients. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 23, 491–494 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-004-1137-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-004-1137-1

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