Diagnosis and Treatment of Pulmonary Fungal Infections in Critically Ill Patients

摘要

Fungi are relatively rare causes of pulmonary infection and outside areas of endemic mycoses, infections arenmainly opportunist caused by Pneumocystis and Aspergillus species. Invasive aspergillosis may be an undiagnosednproblem in critically ill patients particularly those with end stage of lung and liver failure. The attributable mortality andnimpact of antifungal treatment are unknown. A raised index of clinical suspicion should lead to antigen testing onnrespiratory specimens from selected critical care patients to aid in earlier diagnosis. The high negative predictive value cannbe used to exclude diagnosis.