Clinical risk factors for invasive aspergillosis

Despite improvements in the antifungal armamentarium and diagnostic modalities, invasive aspergillosis (IA) remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. There is an emergence of non-traditional groups at risk for IA, including intensive care unit (ICU) patients, post-operative patients, those with chronic pulmonary diseases, patients with AIDS and patients on immunomodulating drugs (TNF-alpha inhibitors). Identification of clinical risk factors for IA may help in determining which patients require risk modification and other prevention measures.