Impact of Aspergillus PCR on the management of invasive aspergillosis: A tertiary care hospital experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

AIM: To assess the impact of Aspergillus PCR on managing invasive aspergillosis (IA) in routine patient management.

METHODS

A retrospective study included 235 patients who had Aspergillus PCR tests performed on respiratory samples (bronchoalveolar lavage, non-bronchoscopic lavage, and sputum) from November 2020 to April 2022.

RESULTS

Of 293 tests, 11.9% were PCR positive. Positive PCR results did not alter IA diagnostic categories. The decision on antifungal treatment was based on PCR results in nine of the 54 treated patients. Ten patients with positive PCR were not treated due to clinical improvement while awaiting results.

CONCLUSION

The utility of Aspergillus PCR was constrained by the use of non-validated samples and delays in reporting, reducing its impact on management decisions during a time when bronchoscopy was limited due to COVID-19. To enhance its clinical effectiveness and cost-efficiency, implementing a diagnostic algorithm for appropriate use is essential.