Aspergillus (RBT-A. fumi, RMab)

Summary and Explanation

In the lungs, Aspergillus hyphae cause bronchiolytic lesions, pneumonia, edema, inflammation, and granulomas with necrotic centers. The necrotic centers may contain fungal fragments, also found in pulmonary macrophages. Thrombosis and platelet activation can help prevent the spread of hyphae, though immunocompromised patients are less able to stop the infection. Invasive aspergillosis has an 85% mortality rate; it is often not even discovered until the autopsy, when tissue can be fixed and examined by IHC (Aspergillus is not grown easily from blood cultures). Diagnosis is further complicated by the lack of distinguishing morphological features- infections by Fusarium species, Scedosporium species, and Pseudallescheria boydii cause similar morphological features and may require IHC to make the correct diagnosis.

---

Synonyms: aspergillus, anti-aspergillus, Anti Aspergillus, A fumigatus