Prevention and diagnostics of invasive fungal infections in acute leukaemia and allogeneic stem cell transplantation
Year: 2012
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Invasive fungal infections constitute a potentially lethal complication in patients with acute leukaemia and in allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT) recipients. The poor prognosis is associated with delays in the diagnosis of these infections. Colonization of the mucous membranes is the first step in the pathogenesis of IFI. With Candida infections the colonization occurs in the gastrointestinal tract. Aspergillus spores enter the body from the air to the lungs. Air filtration reduces the number of spores in the air and the risk of invasive aspergillosis (IA). The studies in this thesis had their focus on the prevention and serological diagnostic methods of IA and invasive candidiasis (IC). The following factors were investigated in 102 adult allogeneic SCT recipients transplanted in 2001-2002: nasal colonization with Aspergillus species, oral colonization with Candida species, the feasibility of two antigen tests (Aspergillus galactomannan and Candida mannan) as diagnostic tools, and the incidence of IA and IC. Simultaneously with the patient sampling, environmental samples were obtained from the HEPA-filtered SCT ward to asses the role of environmental exposure to moulds as a risk factor for IA. Nasal samples yielded positive results in three patients. Two patients had IA. Of the 2071 serum samples, 12 (0.6%) yielded positive results with the galactomannan antigen test in nine patients (8.8%). One of these patients had IA. The oral samples yielded positive results in 38 patients but only one patient had IC. In this patient, the Candida mannan test yielded the first positive result seven weeks before the infection. Single false positive test results were common; they were detected in 54 patients. False results were associated with the use of acyclovir and valacyclovir. Aspergillus species were detected in only 6.1% of the environmental samples. The air quality also remained good during a period of heavy construction activity in the immediate vicinity of the SCT ward. Such periods can cause outbreaks of IA. Fluconazole prophylaxis was assessed in 1089 adult patients with acute leukaemia by comparing the incidence of IC in 847 patients not receiving prophylaxis (years 1978-1999) to 242 patients receiving fluconazole prophylaxis (years 2000-2004). The incidence of IC was 8.7% and 1.6% (P less than 0.001). The efficacy of Amphotericin B (AmB) inhalation prophylaxis was analysed in allogeneic SCT recipients. Antifungal prophylaxis was not given to 257 patients transplanted in 1996-2000 (Period I). In the 354 patients transplanted in 2001-2005 (Period II) AmB inhalation prophylaxis was started in cases of acute graft-versus-host disease requiring therapy with high-dose methylprednisolone. IA was detected in 17 (6.6%) vs. 9 (2.5%) of the patients in Period I and Period II (P = 0.007).
Source: Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja
Author: Anne Nihtinen
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1569257166