[Frequency of bronchopulmonary isolation of Aspergillus species in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus: pathogenic role?].

Prevalence of aspergillosis in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is unknown. Mycologic findings in bronchopulmonary specimens from 614 HIV-positive patients sent to a parasitology laboratory between June 1, 1989 and May 31, 1991 were analyzed retrospectively; medical records of Aspergillus sp--positive patients were studied to evaluate the potential pathogenic role of this organism. Prevalence of Aspergillus sp. was 2.7% in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens, (21/757), 15.1% in sputum specimens (3/53), 12.6% in bronchial aspirates (11/87), 7% in protected brush specimens (2/28), and 16.6% in lung biopsy specimens (4/24). A total of 20 patients (rate = 3.14%) had lung specimens positive for Aspergillus sp. (A. fumigatus 95% and A. niger 5%). Among them, 66% had a single positive specimen (14.3% with a positive smear) and 33% had several positive specimens (mean 4.9 +/- 3.3). Four patients (20%) with a more than 20-month history of AIDS and less than 36 CD4+ cells per microliter had documented pulmonary aspergillosis; three of these patients also had a current or past history of pulmonary mycobacterial infection. Rate of recovery of Aspergillus sp. in LAB specimens was low. The other specimens were harvested because of clinically suggestive manifestations. However, in 20% of patients with positive specimens. A. fumigatus was the cause of patent infection; these patients had severe AIDS-related immunodeficiency.