Frequency of fungal pathogens in bronchoalveolar lavage and biopsy specimens of patients hospitalized in Chamran and Amir al momenin Hospitals

Infectious diseases caused by fungal pathogens have increased in the past 10 years. More than 300 pathogenic fungal species have been incriminated as the etiologic agents. This is attributed to the growing population of immunocompromised patients due to epidemic outbreak of AIDS or to other factors such as use of immunosuppressive drugs in recipients of organ transplantation. In a retrospective cross sectional study we evaluated all consecutive cases who needed a bronchoscopic procedure in Chamran and Amir al Momenin Hospitals between 2003 and 2004. 63 patients underwent bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and biopsy specimens were taken. Specimens were studied by direct microscopic examination، culture، and histopathologic assays. Pertinent clinical data were extracted from medical records and analyzed by SPSS; descriptive charts were drawn subsequently. Fifty patients underwent bronchoscopy in Chamran Hospital and 13 patients in Amir al Momenin Hospital. We studied 40 males and 23 females. Positive smears were observed in 24 patients (42. 9%) and 17 patients (26. 9%) had abnormal pathology consistent with fungal infection. The most common fungal agent in smear specimens was Candida (11 cases، 45. 5%)، especially C. albicans. In biopsy specimens، Aspergillus was the leading offending agent (7 cases، 41%). Early diagnosis and treatment of fungal infections is mandatory in order to improve prognosis and reduce mortality. Close cooperation of clinicians and medical mycologists is crucial in this regard.