Abstract
We evaluated autopsy-proven invasive fungal infections (IFI) in patients with hematologic malignancies over three periods (1989-1993, 1994-1998, and 1999-2003). The autopsy rate declined significantly (67%-34%-26%, respectively p<0.0001). IFI were identified in 314 (31%) of 1017 autopsies. Most IFI (75%) were not diagnosed antemortem. The prevalence of invasive mold infections increased significantly (19%-24%-25% p=0.05) in parallel with the emergence of Zygomycetes (0.9%-4%-3%; p=0.03). The prevalence of all other IFI remained relatively constant. Among patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, those with graft-versus-host disease had a histopathological pattern distinct from those with neutropenia. The complex and evolving epidemiology of IFI in severely immunocompromised patients is not well captured by current diagnostic methods.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 986-989 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Haematologica |
Volume | 91 |
Issue number | 7 |
State | Published - Jul 2006 |
Keywords
- Autopsy
- aspergillus
- candida
- hematologic malignancies
- zygomycetes
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Hematology