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The Egyptian Journal of Bronchology
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Role of comorbidities in acquiring pulmonary fungal infection in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

Egyptian Journal of Bronchology volume 10, pages 243–250 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Bacteria and viruses have been implicated as a major cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations; however, the potential role of fungal colonization and infection is poorly understood.

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the profile of pulmonary fungal infection among COPD patients with and without comorbidities to determine their prevalence, risk factors, and outcome among those patients.

Patients and methods

In this prospective cross-sectional analytic study, different samples (sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage, blood, and others) from 177 COPD patients at risk for pulmonary fungal infection were examined using mycological analysis (direct microscopy and culture). Bronchoalveolar lavage and blood samples were examined using the human 1,3-β-D-glucan and galactomannan ELISA tests.

Results

The prevalence of pulmonary fungal infection was significantly higher in COPD patients with comorbidities (77.8%) versus COPD patients without comorbidities (53.1%) (P <0.001), with a predominance of Candida and Aspergillus spp. in both groups. Mechanical ventilation, corticosteroid therapy, ICU admission, and age were major risk factors for pulmonary fungal infection in COPD patients with comorbidities [P=0.012, odds ratio (ODR)=2.23; P=0.028, ODR=1.99; P=0.025, ODR=1.94; and P=0.034, ODR= 2.60; respectively]. COPD patients with comorbidities had significantly higher mortality rate (12.3%) compared with COPD patients without comorbidities (3.1%; P <0.05). Blood galactomannan antigen was positive in 16 (19.7%) COPD patients with comorbidities versus seven (7.3%) in COPD patients without comorbidities (P <0.05).

Conclusion

COPD patients with comorbidities had a higher prevalence of pulmonary fungal infection and higher mortality rate compared with COPD patients without comorbidities. Age, mechanical ventilation, corticosteroid therapy, and ICU admission were independent risk factors for pulmonary fungal infection in COPD patients with comorbidities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chest Diseases and Tuberculosis, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut, 71515, Egypt

    Ashraf Z. Mohamed, Maha K. Ghanem, Hoda A. Makhlouf & Sahar F. Youssif (MD)

  2. Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut, Egypt

    Ebtesam M. El-Gezawy

  3. Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt

    Ahmad M. Moharrm

Authors
  1. Ashraf Z. Mohamed
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  2. Ahmad M. Moharrm
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  3. Maha K. Ghanem
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  4. Hoda A. Makhlouf
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  5. Ebtesam M. El-Gezawy
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  6. Sahar F. Youssif
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Correspondence to Sahar F. Youssif.

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Mohamed, A.Z., Moharrm, A.M., Ghanem, M.K. et al. Role of comorbidities in acquiring pulmonary fungal infection in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Egypt J Bronchol 10, 243–250 (2016). https://doi.org/10.4103/1687-8426.193629

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/1687-8426.193629

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