Antifungal susceptibility profile of Aspergillus species from patients with increased risk for aspergillosis

Abstract

Aspergillosis is the most common fungal infection caused by molds, especially in highrisk patients. The treatment of these diseases is based on the use of polyene and azole antifungal drugs. Resistance rates of Aspergillus species to antifungal drugs vary widely across medical centers around the world. Antifungal susceptibility testing of Aspergillus species to antifungal agents could provide useful information for clinicians to make decision regarding the patient therapy. The aim of the study was to evaluate the antifungal susceptibility profile of Aspergillus species towards amphotericin B, itraconazole, voriconazole and caspofungin, isolated from patients with increased risk for aspergillosis. During a 2-year period, clinical specimens from 125 patients divided into 4 groups according to clinical diagnosis and EORTC/MSG criteria, were analysed at the Institute of Microbiology and parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia. These groups included patients with primary immune deficiency, critically ill patients treated in intensive care units, patients with chronic aspergillosis and cystic