The risk factors for developing of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis in nontuberculous mycobacteria patients and clinical characteristics and outcomes in chronic pulmonary aspergillosis patients coinfected with nontuberculous mycobacteria

Drug-drug interactions in the management of non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections

Non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) is a refractory chronic respiratory infectious disease and its prevalence is increasing globally. The standard treatment regimen for NTM-PD involves long-term multidrug therapy including macrolides. The incidence of adverse events is high given the advanced age of many NTM-PD patients. In addition, drug-drug interactions under coexisting conditions add additional complexity. Despite guidelines advocating multidrug therapy for NTM-PD, low adherence rates probably owing to the relatively frequent adverse events and drug interactions. An appropriate treatment regimen can improve the bacteriological response rates, reduce the development of macrolide resistance, and mitigate adverse events. Of particular concern are the interactions arising from new complications that develop with NTM-PD. Notably, chronic pulmonary aspergillosis occasionally co-infects NTM-PD, which can lead to poor prognosis. The primary therapeutic modality for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis is the azoles. However, the interaction with rifamycin is problematic, making it challenging to continue standard treatment for NTM-PD and requiring drug adjustments. The implications of rifamycin extend beyond chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, impacting various other diseases such as those requiring immunosuppressive agents and AIDS patients requiring antiretroviral therapy. Hence, a comprehensive consideration of drug interactions is imperative for the initiation of NTM-PD treatment. This mini-review focuses on drug-drug interactions in a multidrug regimen for NTM-PD and discusses the essential points to be considered in the treatment of NTM.

Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis as a Considerable Complication in Post-Tuberculosis Lung Disease

Post-tuberculosis lung disease (PTLD) has only recently been put in the spotlight as a medical entity. Recent data suggest that up to 50% of tuberculosis (TB) patients are left with PTLD-related impairment after completion of TB treatment. The presence of residual cavities in the lung is the largest risk factor for the development of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) globally. Diagnosis of CPA is based on four criteria including a typical radiological pattern, evidence of Aspergillus species, exclusion of alternative diagnosis, and a chronic course of disease. In this manuscript, we provide a narrative review on CPA as a serious complication for patients with PTLD.

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis: comprehensive insights into epidemiology, treatment, and unresolved challenges

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a challenging respiratory infection caused by the environmental fungus Aspergillus. CPA has a poor prognosis, with reported 1-year mortality rates ranging from 7% to 32% and 5-year mortality rates ranging from 38% to 52%. A comprehensive understanding of the pathogen, pathophysiology, risk factors, diagnosis, surgery, hemoptysis treatment, pharmacological therapy, and prognosis is essential to manage CPA effectively. In particular, Aspergillus drug resistance and cryptic species pose significant challenges. CPA lacks tissue invasion and has specific features such as aspergilloma. The most critical risk factor for the development of CPA is pulmonary cavitation. Diagnostic approaches vary by CPA subtype, with computed tomography (CT) imaging and Aspergillus IgG antibodies being key. Treatment strategies include surgery, hemoptysis management, and antifungal therapy. Surgery is the curative option. However, reported postoperative mortality rates range from 0% to 5% and complications range from 11% to 63%. Simple aspergilloma generally has a low postoperative mortality rate, making surgery the first choice. Hemoptysis, observed in 50% of CPA patients, is a significant symptom and can be life-threatening. Bronchial artery embolization achieves hemostasis in 64% to 100% of cases, but 50% experience recurrent hemoptysis. The efficacy of antifungal therapy for CPA varies, with itraconazole reported to be 43-76%, voriconazole 32-80%, posaconazole 44-61%, isavuconazole 82.7%, echinocandins 42-77%, and liposomal amphotericin B 52-73%. Combinatorial treatments such as bronchoscopic triazole administration, inhalation, or direct injection of amphotericin B at the site of infection also show efficacy. A treatment duration of more than 6 months is recommended, with better efficacy reported for periods of more than 1 year. In anticipation of improvements in CPA management, ongoing advances in basic and clinical research are expected to contribute to the future of CPA management.

Clinical Impact of Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Patients with Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease and Role of Computed Tomography in the Diagnosis

Objective Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is an important complication of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD). However, its diagnosis is challenging, as both CPA and NTM-PD present as chronic cavitary disease. The present study evaluated the impact of CPA on the survival of patients with NTM-PD and revealed the key computed tomography findings for a prompt diagnosis. Methods We retrospectively reviewed patients newly diagnosed with NTM-PD in Tenri Hospital (Tenri City, Nara Prefecture, Japan) between January 2009 and March 2018; the patients were followed up until May 2021. Clinical and radiological characteristics were assessed, and patients with CPA were identified. Results A total of 611 patients were diagnosed with NTM-PD. Among them, 38 (6.2%), 102 (17%), and 471 (77%) patients were diagnosed with NTM-PD with CPA, cavitary NTM-PD without CPA, and non-cavitary NTM-PD without CPA, respectively. The 5-year survival rate of the NTM-PD with CPA group (42.8%; 95% confidence interval: 28.7-64.0%) was lower than that of the cavitary NTM-PD without CPA group (74.4%; 95% confidence interval: 65.4-84.6%). A multivariate analysis revealed that fungal balls and cavities with adjacent extrapleural fat were significant predictive factors for NTM-PD with CPA. Conclusion NTM-PD with CPA patients exhibited a worse prognosis than cavitary NTM-PD without CPA patients. Therefore, an unerring diagnosis of CPA is essential for managing patients with NTM-PD. Computed tomography findings, such as fungal balls and cavities with adjacent extrapleural fat, may be valuable diagnostic clues when CPA is suspected in patients with NTM-PD.

Risk factors for clinical progression in patients with pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex disease without culture-positive sputum: a single-center, retrospective study

OBJECTIVES

Limited data are available on the progression of pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) disease without culture-positive sputum. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors associated with clinical progression of pulmonary MAC disease diagnosed by bronchoscopy.

METHODS

A single-center, retrospective, observational study was conducted. Pulmonary MAC patients diagnosed by bronchoscopy without culture-positive sputum from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2017 were analyzed. Clinical progression after diagnosis was defined as having culture-positive sputum at least once or initiation of guideline-based therapy. Then, clinical characteristics were compared between clinically progressed patients and stable patients.

RESULTS

Ninety-three pulmonary MAC patients diagnosed by bronchoscopy were included in the analysis. During the 4-year period after diagnosis, 38 patients (40.9%) started treatment, and 35 patients (37.6%) had new culture-positive sputum. Consequently, 52 patients (55.9%) were classified into the progressed group, and 41 patients (44.1%) were classified into the stable group. There were no significant differences between the progressed and the stable groups in age, body mass index, smoking status, comorbidities, symptoms, or species isolated from bronchoscopy. On multivariate analysis, male sex, monocyte to lymphocyte ratio (MLR) ≥ 0.17, and the presence of combined lesions in the middle (lingula) and lower lobes were risk factors for clinical progression.

CONCLUSIONS

Some patients with pulmonary MAC disease without culture-positive sputum progress within 4 years. Therefore, pulmonary MAC patients, especially male patients, having higher MLR or lesions in the middle (lingula) and lower lobes might need careful follow-up for a longer time.

The Impact of Corticosteroids on the Outcome of Fungal Disease: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Purpose of Review

Corticosteroids have a complex relationship with fungal disease - risk for many, benefit for others. This systematic review aims to address the effect of corticosteroids on mortality and visual outcome in different fungal diseases.

Recent Findings

Corticosteroids are a risk factor of aspergillosis for patients who have COVID-19, and they also led to a worse outcome. Similarity, corticosteroids are a risk factor for candidemia and mucormycosis. Some researchers reported that using topical corticosteroid in keratitis was associated with worse visual outcome if fungal keratitis. Some studies showed that corticosteroids are linked to a negative outcome for non-HIV patients with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP), in contrast to those with HIV and PCP.

Summary

In 59 references, we found that corticosteroid therapy showed a worse clinical outcome in invasive aspergillosis (IA) (HR: 2.50, 95%CI: 1.89-3.31, p < 0.001) and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) (HR: 2.74, 95%CI: 1.48-5.06, p = 0.001), PCP without HIV infection (OR: 1.29, 95%CI: 1.09-1.53, p = 0.003), invasive candidiasis and candidaemia (OR: 2.13, 95%CI: 1.85-2.46, p < 0.001), mucormycosis (OR: 4.19, 95%CI: 1.74-10.05, p = 0.001) and early in the course of fungal keratitis (OR: 2.99, 95%CI: 1.14-7.84, p = 0.026). There was equivocal outcome in cryptococcal meningoencephalitis in AIDS and primary coccidioidomycosis, while corticosteroid therapy showed a better outcome in PCP in HIV-infected patients (RR: 0.62, 95%CI: 0.46-0.83, p=0.001) and fungal keratitis patients after keratoplasty surgery (OR: 0.01, 95%CI: 0.00-0.41, p = 0.041) and probably in cryptococcal meningoencephalitis in non-immunocompromised patients. A sub-analysis in invasive aspergillosis and CPA showed that use of more than 2 mg/kg/day of prednisolone equivalents per day is a significant factor in increasing mortality (HR: 2.94, 95%CI: 2.13-4.05, p < 0.001). Corticosteroid therapy during invasive fungal disease was usually associated with a slightly or greatly increased mortality or worse visual outcome (in fungal keratitis), with two disease exceptions. Avoiding the addition of corticosteroids, or minimising dose and duration in those who require them, is likely to improve the outcome of most life- and vision-threatening fungal diseases. This review provides a cornerstone for further research in exploring the accuracy of suitable dose and duration of corticosteroids treatment in fungal diseases.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12281-023-00456-2.

Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria and Aspergillus Lung Co-Infection: Systematic Review

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and Aspergillus pulmonary co-infection occurs in patients with underlying lung disease and is rarely reported. We conducted a systematic search of NTM and Aspergillus pulmonary co-infection in PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library to identify cases published from 1977 to May 2022. We included 507 articles comprising 1538 cases (only 817 patients with partial relevant clinical data). Of these, 54.3% of patients were men, with a mean age of 57.7 years. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (21.1%), previous diagnosis of tuberculosis (18%), and asthma (11.1%) were the most common chronic lung diseases, and corticosteroids were used in 36.8% of patients. The most frequent symptoms were cough (68.2%), dyspnea (59.1%), and hemoptysis (34.1%). The most common radiological findings were bronchiectasis (52.3%) and cavitation (40.8%). NTM and Aspergillus were treated simultaneously in 47.3% of cases, whereas NTM-targeted therapy only was performed in 23.4% and Aspergillus only in 1.6%. The remaining 27.7% did not receive any treatment and were considered to be colonized. The global mortality rate was 43% (159/370). There was an increased prevalence of NTM and pulmonary aspergillosis among patients with underlying chronic lung diseases, which led to severe pulmonary affection with a poor global prognosis.

Clinical features and treatment outcomes of pulmonary Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex with and without co-infections

Coinfections are more common in patients with cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis. Infiltrates on imaging studies are seen more commonly in patients with coinfections, but coinfections did not affect treatment outcomes of pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex.

Incidence of Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Patients with Suspected or Confirmed NTM and TB—A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a severe and underdiagnosed pulmonary fungal infection with a significant overlap in symptoms and imaging findings of mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) and non-tuberculous mycobacterium (NTM). Infection with TB or NTM is a predisposing underlying condition for CPA in approximately one-third of patients. A previously published study from Uganda showed increased incidence and complication rate of CPA with respect to pre-existing radiographic cavitation in a post-treatment TB population. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of CPA in a low-endemic population of confirmed or suspected TB and NTM patients. We manually reviewed 172 patients referred on suspicion or for treatment of TB or NTM at the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Odense University Hospital during the period of 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2020. We found no CPA amongst TB patients as opposed to an incidence of 8.2% (n = 4) in NTM-infected patients. We identified possible investigatory differences in Aspergillus blood sample screening protocols depending on NTM or TB, initiated at the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Odense University Hospital. A focused screening and investigatory protocol in NTM patients with persisting or developing symptoms is warranted in relation to suspected CPA.

Impact of emphysema on the prognosis of Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major comorbid disease of Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease (MAC-PD). Emphysema is one of the main pathological findings in COPD, a risk factor for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA), and is associated with poor prognosis. We aimed to clarify the effect of emphysema on mortality in MAC-PD.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 203 patients with MAC-PD at The Jikei Daisan Hospital between January 2014 and December 2018. We investigated the mortality and CPA development rates after MAC-PD diagnosis in patients with or without emphysema.

RESULTS

Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed the following negative prognostic factors in patients with MAC-PD: emphysema (hazard ratio [HR]: 11.46; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.30-100.90; P = 0.028); cavities (HR: 3.12; 95% CI: 1.22-7.94; P = 0.017); and low body mass index (<18.5 kg/m²) (HR: 4.62; 95% CI: 1.63-13.11; P = 0.004). The mortality and occurrence of CPA were higher in MAC-PD patients with than without emphysema (log-rank test, P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Our study findings showed that emphysema detected by computed tomography was associated with an increased risk of CPA development and mortality in MAC-PD.

Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis: Disease Severity Using Image Analysis and Correlation with Systemic Proinflammation and Predictors of Clinical Outcome

(1) Background: The presentation of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) ranges from single granuloma to fibrosis in the affected lung. CPA can be divided into five categories according to European Respirology Society (ERS) guidance but is usually assessed by clinical physicians. Computer-based quantitative lung parenchyma analysis in CPA and its correlation with clinical manifestations, systemic inflammation, and angiogenesis have never been investigated. (2) Method: Forty-nine patients with CPA and 36 controls were prospectively enrolled. Pulmonary function tests (forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), and FEV₁/FCV) and biomarkers in the peripheral blood (the chemokines interleukin (IL)-1B, IL-6, IL-10, IL-8, CRP, ESR, MMP1, MMP7, MMP8, TNF-α, calprotectin, SDF-1α, and VEGFA) were measured before antifungal treatment. The disease severity was categorized into mild, moderate, and severe based on chest computed tomography (CT) images. The oxygen demand and overall mortality until the end of the study were recorded. Quantitative parenchyma analysis was performed using the free software 3Dslicer. (3) Results: The results of quantitative parenchyma analysis concorded with the visual severity from the chest CT, oxygen demand, FVC, and FEV₁ in the study subjects. The decrease in kurtosis and skewness of the lung density histograms on CT, increase in high attenuation area (HAA), and reduced lung volume were significantly correlated with increases in the PMN %, CRP, IL-1B, SDF-1α, MMP1, and Calprotectin in peripheral blood in the multivariable regression analysis. TNF-α and IL-1B at study entry and the CPA severity from either a visual method or computer-based evaluation were predictors of long-term mortality. (4) Conclusion: The computer-based parenchyma analysis in CPA agreed with the categorization on a visual basis and was associated with the clinical outcomes, chemokines, and systemic proinflammation profiles.

Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infection Predisposing to Chronic Cavitary Pulmonary Aspergillosis

Aspergillus is a large group of spore-forming fungi in the phylum Ascomycota. Aspergillus infections more frequently occur in individuals with pre-existing lung conditions such as cystic fibrosis and asthma and immunosuppressed individuals, and less frequently in the immunocompetent population. Pulmonary aspergillosis can be subdivided into three categories: allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. We present a rare case of a 57-year-old male with a previously known diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma on chemotherapy who was found to have a co-infection of the respiratory tract by Aspergillus flavus and Mycobacterium avium intracellulare.

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis: prevalence, favouring pulmonary diseases and prognosis

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is an emerging disease in patients with common chronic pulmonary diseases (CPDs). While its prevalence is linked to tuberculosis (TB) in endemic countries, epidemiological and prognostic data are lacking in low TB incidence countries. The aim of this study was to describe these features in CPA patients hospitalised in France between 2009 and 2018.We estimated the prevalence and mortality of hospitalised CPA patients using the French nationwide administrative hospital database. We also assessed the association with CPD, thoracic interventions and malnutrition.From 2009 to 2018, 17 290 patients were hospitalised in France for CPA, with an increasing prevalence during this period. Most patients were male (63.5%) with a median age of 65 years at CPA diagnosis, living in farming regions and large cities. The proportion of underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and emphysema during the previous 5 years was 44% and 22%, respectively, whereas it was only 3% for both TB and non-TB mycobacterial (NTM) infections. The mortality rates during the first hospitalisation, at 1 year and at 5 years were 17%, 32% and 45%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, mortality rates were increased in patients aged >65 years, male patients and patients with malnutrition, diabetes or lung cancer history. The risk of mortality in patients with COPD or emphysema was higher than in those with previous mycobacterial lung infection.In France, CPA is an emerging infection commonly associated with non-mycobacterial CPD. This shift in the distribution profile of underlying CPD will likely worsen CPA mortality.

A patient with hepatocellular carcinoma who developed invasive pulmonary aspergillosis after corticosteroid treatment

Lung or head and neck cancer have been indicated as solid cancers associated with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), but the relationship with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unknown. We report a case of HCC in which the presence of cirrhosis and corticosteroid administration may have caused the development of IPA.

Prognostic factors of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis: A retrospective cohort of 264 patients from Japan

Background

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) develops in various underlying pulmonary conditions. There is scarce data evaluating interstitial lung disease (ILD)/abnormalities (ILA) as such conditions, and it has not been explored much whether non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) is a prognostic factor for mortality in CPA patients. Few reports had investigated prognostic factors of CPA including underlying pulmonary conditions.

Objectives

To explore prognostic factors of CPA including pulmonary conditions.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 264 CPA patients from a center for pulmonary aspergillosis in Japan.

Results

Survival rates were 78.7%, 61.0%, and 47.4% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Of 264 patients, 53 (20.1%) and 87 (33.1%) were complicated with ILA and NTM-PD. Several independent prognostic factors were identified by multivariate Cox proportional analysis: ILA (HR 1.76, 95%CI 1.06–2.92, p = 0.029), age (1.05, 1.02–1.08, p<0.001), male sex (2.48, 1.34–4.59, p = 0.004), body mass index of <18.5 kg/m² (1,87, 1.20–2.90, p = 0.005), presence of aspergilloma (1.59, 1.04–2.45, p = 0.033), and lower serum albumin (0.56, 0.38–0.83, p = 0.004). NTM-PD was not associated with higher mortality (0.85, 0.52–1.38, p = 0.51).

Conclusions

The poor prognosis of CPA and several prognostic factors were revealed. Early diagnosis and intervention is required with reference to such factors.

Clinical Implications of Size of Cavities in Patients With Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease: A Single-Center Cohort Study

Background

The presence of cavities is associated with unfavorable prognosis in patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD). However, little is known about the characteristics of such cavities and their impact on clinical outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the size of cavities and their implications on treatment outcomes and mortality in patients with NTM-PD.

Methods

We included patients diagnosed with NTM-PD at Seoul National University Hospital between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2018. We measured the size of cavities on chest computed tomography scans performed at the time of diagnosis and used multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to investigate the impact of these measurements on treatment outcomes and mortality.

Results

The study cohort comprised 421 patients (noncavitary, n = 329; cavitary, n = 92) with NTM-PD. During a median follow-up period of 49 months, 118 (35.9%) of the 329 patients with noncavitary and 64 (69.6%) of the 92 patients with cavitary NTM-PD received antibiotic treatment. Cavities >2 cm were associated with worse treatment outcomes (adjusted odds ratio, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.17–0.96) and higher mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.52; 95% CI, 1.09–5.84), while there was no difference in treatment outcomes or mortality between patients with cavities ≤2 cm and patients with noncavitary NTM-PD.

Conclusions

Clinical outcomes are different according to the size of cavities in patients with cavitary NTM-PD; thus, the measurement of the size of cavities could help in making clinical decisions.

Aspergillus isolation in nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease: Associated with antimycobacterial treatment initiation but not response

PURPOSE

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis is a serious complication of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD), and diagnosis remains challenging. The present study examined associations between the respiratory isolation of Aspergillus and the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with NTM-PD.

METHODS

All patients meeting NTM-PD criteria as defined by the ATS/IDSA statement, with at least one respiratory sample cultured for fungi, were included in this retrospective cohort analysis. Patients with at least one respiratory sample isolating Aspergillus were compared to patients who did not isolate Aspergillus. The primary outcomes were culture conversion and radiologic evolution 12 months after NTM-PD treatment initiation.

RESULTS

During a 12 year period, 497 patients meeting the inclusion criteria were seen in our tertiary care center, of whom 130 grew Aspergillus. Median follow up after NTM-PD diagnosis was 46 months. Inhaled corticosteroid use, a nodular-bronchiectatic CT pattern and NTM-PD treatment initiation were more frequent in patients who isolated Aspergillus compared to those who did not (p-value respectively 0.01, 0.03 and < 0.001). Rates of culture conversion (63.0% vs. 62.2%, respectively; p-value 1) and radiologic evolution (improvement or stability in 69.7% vs. 77.2%, respectively; p-value 0.25) were not significantly different between treatment groups. Likewise, culture reversion rate and 5-year mortality were not significantly different. Additionally, A. fumigatus and repeated detection of Aspergillus were not associated with treatment outcomes.

CONCLUSION

There was no association between respiratory isolation of Aspergillus and NTM-PD treatment outcomes in this cohort. However, treatment for NTM-PD was initiated more frequently in patients who isolated Aspergillus.

New/Different Look at the Presence of Aspergillus in Mycobacterial Pulmonary Diseases. Long-Term Retrospective Cohort Study

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) has been reported to be associated with poor prognosis in non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM)-pulmonary disease (PD) patients. However, whether isolation of Apergillus species is associated with poor outcome or mostly just the reflection of colonization is a widely debated issue and a yet unsolved question. We conducted this single-centered retrospective cohort study of 409 NTM-PD patients to assess the impacts and prevalence of Aspergillus isolation and CPA development. The median observation time was 85 months. Aspergillus species were isolated from 79 (19.3%) and 23 (5.6%) developed CPA. Isolation of Aspergillus species was not associated with mortality in NTM-PD patients (p = 0.9016). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that higher CRP (p = 0.0213) and AFB stain positivity (p = 0.0101) were independently associated with Aspergillus isolation. Different mycobacterial species were not associated with Aspergillus isolation. Survival curves for patients with CPA diagnosis were significantly and strikingly different from those without (p = 0.0064), suggesting that CPA development severely affects clinical outcome. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the use of systemic steroids (p = 0.0189) and cavity (p = 0.0207) were independent risk factors for the progression to CPA. Considering the high mortality rate of CPA in NTM-PD, early diagnosis and treatment are essential to improve outcomes for NTM-PD patients.

Selection of Oral Antifungals for Initial Maintenance Therapy in Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis: A Longitudinal Analysis

BACKGROUND

There are limited data for direct comparisons of the efficacy of oral itraconazole (ITCZ) and oral voriconazole (VRCZ) therapy in the treatment of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, follow-up, observational study of CPA patients enrolled in 2 previous multicenter trials.

RESULTS

Of the 273 CPA patients, 59 and 101 patients started maintenance therapy with oral ITCZ and oral VRCZ, respectively, just after the end of acute intravenous therapy in each trial. At the end of the observation period in this follow-up study (median observation period, 731 days), the percentage of patients who showed improvement was lower in the ITCZ group than in the VRCZ group (18.2% vs 40.0%). However, after including stable patients, the percentages were 50.9% and 52.6%, respectively, in the ITCZ and VRCZ groups, which were not significantly different (P = .652). Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed no significant influence of the choice of initial maintenance treatment (ITCZ or VRCZ) on overall mortality as well as CPA-associated mortality. Multivariable logistic regression showed that oral ITCZ selection for initial maintenance therapy was an independent risk factor for hospital readmission and switching to other antifungal agents (odds ratio [OR], 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-7.5 and OR, 5.7; 95% CI, 2.0-15.7, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Oral VRCZ for initial maintenance therapy showed better effectiveness than oral ITCZ for clinical improvement in CPA patients. There was no difference in crude mortality between initial maintenance therapy with VRCZ and ITCZ, especially in elderly CPA patients.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION

UMIN000007055.

Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis Following Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infections: An Emerging Disease

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) following nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease is being increasingly recognized, especially in countries where tuberculosis is not endemic, with an incidence rate of 3.9–16.7%. NTM lung disease has been identified as a predictor of mortality in CPA patients. The major risk factors for NTM-associated CPA include fibrocavitary NTM lung disease, the presence of pulmonary emphysema, and high-dose corticosteroid use. The onset of CPA is 1.5–7 years following the diagnosis of NTM lung disease. The diagnosis can be made using standard criteria; however, serological diagnosis using Aspergillus precipitin has demonstrated a higher sensitivity and specificity when compared with fungal culture from respiratory specimens. Treatment is challenging since rifampicin and oral triazoles should not be used concomitantly. The prognosis is poor, and the factors associated with worse prognosis are corticosteroid use and high C-reactive protein level.

Opportunist Coinfections by Nontuberculous Mycobacteria and Fungi in Immunocompromised Patients

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and many fungal species (spp.) are commonly associated with opportunistic infections (OPIs) in immunocompromised individuals. Moreover, occurrence of concomitant infection by NTM (mainly spp. of Mycobacterium avium complex and Mycobacterium abscessus complex) and fungal spp. (mainly, Aspergillus fumigatus, Histoplasma capsulatum and Cryptococcus neoformans) is very challenging and is associated with poor patient prognosis. The most frequent clinical symptoms for coinfection and infection by single agents (fungi or NTM) are similar. For this reason, the accurate identification of the aetiological agent(s) is crucial to select the best treatment approach. Despite the significance of this topic it has not been sufficiently addressed in the literature. This review aims at summarizing case reports and studies on NTM and fungi coinfection during the last 20 years. In addition, it briefly characterizes OPIs and coinfection, describes key features of opportunistic pathogens (e.g., NTM and fungi) and human host predisposing conditions to OPIs onset and outcome. The review could interest a wide spectrum of audiences, including medical doctors and scientists, to improve awareness of these infections, leading to early identification in clinical settings and increasing research in the field. Improved diagnosis and availability of therapeutic options might contribute to improve the prognosis of patients' survival.

Long-Term Treatment Outcome of Progressive Mycobacterium Avium Complex Pulmonary Disease

BACKGROUND

Multidrug therapy is essential for preventing respiratory failure in patients with highly progressive Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease (MAC-PD). However, the prognosis and long-term outcome following combination therapy is poorly understood.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated the clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes in patients with chemo-naïve progressive MAC-PD, hospitalized for first-line multidrug therapy.

RESULTS

Among 125 patients, 86 (68.8%) received standardized treatment (rifampicin, ethambutol, clarithromycin), 25 (20.0%) received a fluoroquinolone (FQ)-containing regimen, and 53 (42.4%) received aminoglycoside injection. The sputum conversion rate was 80.0%, and was independently associated with standardized treatment. The incidence of refractory disease (45.6%) was independently and negatively associated with standardized regimen and aminoglycoside use. Choice of an FQ-containing regimen was not associated with positive outcome. Clarithromycin resistance occurred in 16.8% and was independently associated with refractory disease. MAC-PD-associated death occurred in 3.3% of patients with non-cavitary nodular bronchiectasis (NB) and 21.3% with cavitary MAC-PD over a median follow-up period of 56.4 months. The rates of MAC-PD-associated death were comparable between cavitary-NB and fibrocavitary disease. Concurrent chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) occurred in 13 (17.3%) patients with cavitary MAC-PD, and age, diabetes mellitus, and CPA were independent risk factors for mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Standardized intensive multidrug treatment reduces disease progression and persistence in progressive MAC-PD. Cavitary NB may differ from, rather than being just an advanced stage of, non-cavitary NB. The high incidence and significant mortality of CPA in cavitary MAC-PD highlight the need for early diagnosis and treatment.

Invasive Tracheobronchial Aspergillosis with Bronchial Ulcers Complicated by Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Disease

Invasive tracheobronchial aspergillosis (ITBA) complicated by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is rare. An 88-year-old man was admitted for hemoptysis. Bronchoscopy revealed bronchial ulcers, and a tissue biopsy showed Aspergillus fumigatus. He was diagnosed with ITBA, which improved with voriconazole. During treatment, infiltrative shadows appeared in his lungs, and bronchoscopy was performed once again. A non-necrotic epithelioid granuloma and Mycobacterium intracellulare were detected in the biopsy specimen. He was diagnosed with NTM disease. It is important to note that tracheobronchial ulcers may cause hemoptysis and to identify the etiology and treat it appropriately when multiple bacteria are found.

Concomitant Presence of Aspergillus Species and Mycobacterium Species in the Respiratory Tract of Patients: Underestimated Co-occurrence?

Objectives

Aspergillus and Mycobacterium are opportunistic pathogens that can cause severe pulmonary diseases. To date, the clinical significance of their concomitant isolation and potential interactions in the lung remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of their concomitant isolation from respiratory samples, and to depict the related clinical and microbiological characteristics.

Methods

A retrospective monocentric study was conducted from January 2011 to December 2017, including all in-patients from whom positive cultures of Aspergillus and Mycobacterium were obtained on respiratory samples within a 3-month period. Clinical, radiological and laboratory data were analyzed. Patients were categorized by a clinical and microbiological committee as "infected" or "colonized" by both pathogens according to current guidelines.

Results

Overall, 140 patients had ≥1 respiratory samples positive for Mycobacterium and concomitantly sent for fungal culture, and 708 were positive for Aspergillus, concomitantly sent for mycobacterial culture. Only 50 had at least one positive culture for both Mycobacterium sp. and Aspergillus sp. Men represented 63% of patients, mean age was 61 years. A third of patients were immunocompromised and 92% had underlying lung diseases. Aspergillus was primarily found as a colonizing agent. Proportion of Mycobacterium Avium Complex (p = 0.02) was higher in patients co-carrying Aspergillus spp.

Conclusion

In this first study focusing on co-isolation of Mycobacteria and Aspergillus in patient's respiratory samples, co-infection remains rare. Further studies are warranted in order to precise the exact relationship between these opportunistic pathogens and the clinical impact of co-isolations.

How Environmental Fungi Cause a Range of Clinical Outcomes in Susceptible Hosts

Environmental fungi are globally ubiquitous and human exposure is near universal. However, relatively few fungal species are capable of infecting humans, and among fungi, few exposure events lead to severe systemic infections. Systemic infections have mortality rates of up to 90%, cost the US healthcare system $7.2 billion annually, and are typically associated with immunocompromised patients. Despite this reputation, exposure to environmental fungi results in a range of outcomes, from asymptomatic latent infections to severe systemic infection. Here we discuss different exposure outcomes for five major fungal pathogens: Aspergillus, Blastomyces, Coccidioides, Cryptococcus, and Histoplasma species. These fungi include a mold, a budding yeast, and thermal dimorphic fungi. All of these species must adapt to dramatically changing environments over the course of disease. These dynamic environments include the human lung, which is the first exposure site for these organisms. Fungi must defend themselves against host immune cells while germinating and growing, which risks further exposing microbe-associated molecular patterns to the host. We discuss immune evasion strategies during early infection, from disruption of host immune cells to major changes in fungal cell morphology.

Recent Advances in Diagnosing Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis

Purpose: The diagnosis of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is occasionally complicated due to poor sensitivity of mycological culture and colonization of Aspergillus species in the airway. Several diagnostic methods have been developed for the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis; however, their interpretation and significance are different in CPA. This study aimed to review the recent advances in diagnostic methods and their characteristics in the diagnosis of CPA.

Recent findings: Radiological findings of lung, histopathology, and culture are the gold standard of CPA diagnosis. Serodiagnosis methods involving the use of galactomannan and β-D-glucan have low sensitivity and specificity. An Aspergillus-specific IgG antibody assay showed good performance and had better sensitivity and reproducibility than conventional precipitant antibody assays. Currently, it is the most reliable method for diagnosing CPA caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, but evidence on its effectiveness in diagnosing CPA caused by non-fumigatus Aspergillus is lacking. Newly developed lateral flow device Aspergillus and detection of volatile organic compounds in breath have potential, but evidence on its effectiveness in diagnosing CPA is lacking. The increasing prevalence of azole-resistant A. fumigatus strains has become a threat to public health. Some of the azole-resistant-related genes can be detected directly from clinical samples using a commercially available kit. However, its clinical efficacy for routine use remains unclear, since resistance-related genes greatly differ among regions and countries.

Conclusion: Several issues surrounding the diagnosis of CPA remain unclear. Hence, further investigations and clinical studies are needed to improve the accuracy and efficiency of CPA diagnosis.

Prognosis of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease (PNTM) is a known risk factor for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA). However, few studies have focused on the prognosis of PNTM-associated CPA. In the present investigation, we aimed to elucidate the clinical course and prognostic factors of CPA in patients with PNTM.

METHODS

We retrospectively investigated the medical records of 62 patients with CPA and a history of PNTM who were admitted to Kinki-chuo Chest Medical Center between 2010 and 2015. Co-morbidities, causative microorganisms, radiological findings, and outcomes were evaluated.

RESULTS

The patients' median age was 69.5 years, and the median follow-up period was 4.2 years. The major underlying diseases, other than PNTM and CPA, were old pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and interstitial pneumonia. The most common causative NTM species were Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC; 37 patients; 59.7%) and Mycobacterium kansasii (20 patients; 32.3%). Survival was 83% after 1 year and 61% after 5 years. Use of systemic corticosteroids (hazard ratio: 3.32, 95% confidence interval: 1.23-9.51; P=0.00177) and C-reactive protein levels ≥ 5.0 mg/dL (hazard ratio: 8.96, 95% confidence interval: 2.15-62.9; P=0.0014) at the time of CPA diagnosis were associated with increased over-all mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

CPA frequently developed in patients with MAC and M. kansasii PNTM. The treatment course of PNTM was not associated with all-cause mortality. However, systemic corticosteroid use and high CRP levels were negative prognostic factors of CPA in patients with PNTM. Since the prognosis is poor, early diagnosis and treatment of CPA are important in patients with PNTM.

Risk stratification for the development of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease

BACKGROUND

The number of patients with pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial disease complicated by chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) has been increasing. Additionally, CPA is reportedly associated with mortality in patients with Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease (MAC-LD). In the present study, we aimed to identify risk factors for developing CPA and stratify the risk for CPA development in patients with MAC-LD.

METHODS

We retrospectively examined 361 patients newly diagnosed with MAC-LD. Risk factors for CPA development were examined using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. A risk stratification system was established using the risk factors and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses.

RESULTS

CPA developed in 20 (5.5%) of the 361 patients. Independent risk factors for CPA development included the presence of pulmonary emphysema, baseline steroid use, a serum albumin level <3.5 g/dL, and the presence of MAC-LD cavities. A 4-point scoring system was established to stratify patients into low-risk (0-1 point) and high-risk (2-4 points) groups. The 5-year incidence rates of CPA were 2.2% and 31% in the low- and high-risk groups, respectively (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

We identified independent predictors of CPA development and established a simple risk stratification system for identifying patients with MAC-LD who were at a high risk of developing CPA.

Aspergillus precipitating antibody in patients with Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease: A cross-sectional study

RATIONALE

Little is known about the role of Aspergillus precipitating antibody (APAb) in patients with Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease (MAC-LD).

OBJECTIVES

We investigated the clinical characteristics of patients with MAC-LD positive for APAb.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study targeting patients with MAC-LD. APAb was checked in all participants. Clinical variables included laboratory data, pulmonary function, high-resolution computed tomography findings, and health-related quality of life.

RESULTS

We analyzed 109 consecutive patients. Their median age was 68 years, and the median duration of MAC-LD was 4.8 years. Twenty (18.3%) patients tested positive for APAb. APAb-positive patients had significantly longer duration of MAC-LD (9.4 vs. 4.0 years, P = 0.017), more severe bronchiectasis evaluated by modified Reiff score (6.5 vs. 4, P = 0.0049), and lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s (%FEV₁) (75.1% vs. 86.2%, P = 0.013) than APAb-negative patients. Analysis of covariance adjusted for background factors and underlying pulmonary disease revealed that %FEV₁ was also significantly lower in patients with APAb (P = 0.045). Ten patients were newly diagnosed with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (N = 5) or allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (N = 5).

CONCLUSIONS

APAb is associated with lower pulmonary function, and observed especially in patients with longer duration of MAC-LD and severe bronchiectasis, even in the absence of cavitary lesions.

Impact of chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection on health-related quality of life in Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease

Background

In bronchiectasis patients, chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) infection has been associated with worse health-related quality of life (HRQL), but little is known about Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease (MACLD) patients in this context. This study aimed to evaluate HRQL and investigate the impact of chronic PA infection in MACLD patients.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted using the Registry of Prospective Cohort Study including MACLD patients. The 36-item Short-Form health survey (SF-36) and St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) were administered to assess clinical outcomes. Clinical variables included treatment and sputum culture status, pulmonary function tests, cavitary lesions, and modified Reiff scores on high-resolution computed tomography.

Results

The study included 244 MACLD patients (median age, 68 years; 196 women), 19 of whom had chronic PA infection. Modified Reiff score was higher in patients with chronic infection than in those without (P = 0.028). Regarding SF-36 scores, physical functioning subscale scores were significantly lower in patients with chronic infection (P = 0.029). Additionally, SGRQ symptoms, impact, and total scores were significantly higher in patients with chronic infection. During analysis of covariance comparisons, SGRQ symptoms and impact scores were significantly higher for patients with chronic infection (P = 0.043 and 0.021, respectively).

Conclusions

MACLD patients with chronic PA infection exhibited significantly higher SGRQ scores, indicating impaired HRQL. Chronic PA infection was significantly associated with the severity of bronchiectasis.

Risk factors for the development of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease

Nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease (NTM-LD) is increasingly recognized as an important predisposing condition for the development of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA), but there are limited data on the risk factors for CPA development in NTM-LD patients. We reviewed the medical records of 566 patients who, at the time of diagnosis of NTM-LD, did not have CPA and who received ≥12 months of treatment for NTM-LD between January 2010 and June 2015. Of these patients, 41 (7.2%) developed CPA (NTM-CPA group), whereas the remaining 525 patients did not develop CPA (NTM group). The median time to the development of CPA was 18.0 months from treatment initiation for NTM-LD. The NTM-CPA group was older and had significantly higher proportions of males, current smokers, and patients with a low body mass index (<18.5 kg/m2), when compared to the NTM group. Moreover, the NTM-CPA group was more likely to have a history of tuberculosis and chronic obstructive lung disease and to have used inhaled or systemic steroids. In the NTM-CPA group, more than 40% of patients had Mycobacterium abscessus complex (MABC) as the cause of NTM-LD, and the fibrocavitary form of NTM-LD was the most common; both associations were higher than in the NTM group. Overall, 17 (3%) patients died, and the NTM-CPA group had a higher mortality rate than did the NTM group (19.5% vs. 1.7%, respectively; P<0.001). In a multivariable analysis, old age, male gender, low body mass index, chronic obstructive lung disease, systemic steroids, MABC as the etiologic organism, and the fibrocavitary form of NTM-LD remained significant predictors of development of CPA. In conclusion, CPA occurred in 7.2% of patients after initiation of treatment for NTM-LD, and some risk factors were associated with CPA development. Given the worse prognosis, early diagnosis and treatment of CPA are important in patients with NTM-LD.

Effect of a 150 mg dose of rifabutin on serum itraconazole levels in patients with coexisting chronic pulmonary aspergillosis and Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease

Patients with coexisting chronic pulmonary aspergillosis and nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease may undergo treatment with both the antifungal itraconazole and the antimycobacterial rifamycin. However, rifamycins interact with itraconazole. We examined the effects of a 150 mg dose of rifabutin on serum itraconazole levels and found significantly lower levels in 28 patients receiving itraconazole with rifabutin (median, 0.65 μg/ml) compared with 65 patients receiving itraconazole alone (median 3.45 μg/ml, P < 0.001). One-third of patients receiving itraconazole and rifabutin reached the therapeutic range of serum itraconazole concentration. Therapeutic drug monitoring is strongly recommended during concomitant use of rifabutin and itraconazole.

Predictors of mortality in chronic pulmonary aspergillosis

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a chronic progressive infection that destroys lung tissue in non-immunocompromised patients. Contemporary series suggest 50-85% 5-year mortality, with few prognostic factors identified.A cohort of 387 CPA patients referred to the UK's National Aspergillosis Centre from 1992 to June 2012 was studied until June 2015. The impact of objective and subjective variables including age, sex, previous pulmonary conditions, dyspnoea score, quality of life, serum albumin and C-reactive protein and radiological appearances were assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves, log rank tests and Cox proportional hazards modelling. In samples of patients, retrospective review of time from likely onset of CPA to referral and cause of death were also investigated.Survival was 86%, 62% and 47% at 1, 5 and 10 years, respectively. Increased mortality was associated with nontuberculous mycobacterial infection (hazard ratio 2.07, 95% CI 1.22-3.52; p<0.001) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1.57, 1.05-2.36; p=0.029) as well as higher age (1.053, 1.03-1.07 per year; p<0.001), lower albumin (0.92, 0.87-0.96 per g·L^-1), lower activity (1.021, 1.01-1.03 per point increase in St George's Respiratory Questionnaire activity domain; p<0.001) and having one, and especially, bilateral aspergillomas (p<0.001).Several factors impact on mortality of CPA, and can be evaluated as tools to assess CPA prognosis.

Serious fungal infections in Korea

Information on the incidence and prevalence of fungal infections is of critical value in public health policy. However, nationwide epidemiological data on fungal infections are scarce, due to a lack of surveillance and funding. The objective of this study was to estimate the disease burden of fungal infections in the Republic of Korea. An actuarial approach using a deterministic model was used for the estimation. Data on the number of populations at risk and the frequencies of fungal infections in those populations were obtained from national statistics reports and epidemiology papers. Approximately 1 million people were estimated to be affected by fungal infections every year. The burdens of candidemia (4.12 per 100,000), cryptococcal meningitis (0.09 per 100,000), and Pneumocystis pneumonia (0.51 per 100,000) in South Korea were estimated to be comparable to those in other countries. The prevalence of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (22.4 per 100,000) was markedly high, probably due to the high burden of tuberculosis in Korea. The low burdens of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (56.9 per 100,000) and severe asthma with fungal sensitization (75.1 per 100,000) warrant further study. Oral candidiasis (539 per 100,000) was estimated to affect a much larger population than noted in previous studies. Our work provides valuable insight on the epidemiology of fungal infections; however, additional studies are needed.

Challenges in the management of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis

The management of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) presents multiple challenges. We present three cases that illustrate some of the most challenging aspects of caring for patients with CPA: specifically, antifungal drug resistance, drug interactions, coinfection with nontuberculous mycobacteria, and large-volume hemoptysis.

Characterization of patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis according to the new ESCMID/ERS/ECMM and IDSA guidelines

Recently, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) in cooperation with the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and the European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM) published guidelines for the diagnosis of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA). Both guidelines, however, carry significant differences. We retrospectively applied the diagnostic recommendations on a patient cohort of 71 previously diagnosed CPA patients in order to compare both guidelines. In 50 patients (70%) the diagnosis was confirmed by the diagnostic criteria of both guidelines, while nine patients (13%) fulfilled neither the ESCMID/ERS/ECMM nor the IDSA criteria. Reasons were lack of mycological evidence in respiratory samples. These patients were not tested for the presence of Aspergillus-specific IgG antibodies, which is strongly recommended by both guidelines. Seven patients did not fulfil the diagnostic criteria of the IDSA guideline, because of severe immunosuppression, while five patients didn't fulfil the diagnostic criteria of the ESCMID/ERS/ECMM guideline, because of uncommon image findings. The comparison of both guidelines highlight that the combination of a chest CT scan with the performance of an Aspergillus-specific IgG antibody assay are key diagnostic features to establish a guideline-based diagnosis of CPA.

Personalized Medicine for Chronic Respiratory Infectious Diseases: Tuberculosis, Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Diseases, and Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis

Chronic respiratory infectious diseases are causing high rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Tuberculosis, a major cause of chronic pulmonary infection, is currently responsible for approximately 1.5 million deaths per year. Although important advances in the fight against tuberculosis have been made, the progress towards eradication of this disease is being challenged by the dramatic increase in multidrug-resistant bacilli. Nontuberculous mycobacteria causing pulmonary disease and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis are emerging infectious diseases. In contrast to other infectious diseases, chronic respiratory infections share the trait of having highly variable treatment outcomes despite longstanding antimicrobial therapy. Recent scientific progress indicates that medicine is presently at a transition stage from programmatic to personalized management. We explain current state-of-the-art management concepts of chronic pulmonary infectious diseases as well as the underlying methods for therapeutic decisions and their implications for personalized medicine. Furthermore, we describe promising biomarkers and techniques with the potential to serve future individual treatment concepts in this field of difficult-to-treat patients. These include candidate markers to improve individual risk assessment for disease development, the design of tailor-made drug therapy regimens, and individualized biomarker-guided therapy duration to achieve relapse-free cure. In addition, the use of therapeutic drug monitoring to reach optimal drug dosing with the smallest rate of adverse events as well as candidate agents for future host-directed therapies are described. Taken together, personalized medicine will provide opportunities to substantially improve the management and treatment outcome of difficult-to-treat patients with chronic respiratory infections.

Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis-Where Are We? and Where Are We Going?

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is estimated to affect 3 million people worldwide making it an under recognised, but significant health problem across the globe, conferring significant morbidity and mortality. With variable disease forms, high levels of associated respiratory co-morbidity, limited therapeutic options and prolonged treatment strategies, CPA is a challenging disease for both patients and healthcare professionals. CPA can mimic smear-negative tuberculosis (TB), pulmonary histoplasmosis or coccidioidomycosis. Cultures for Aspergillus are usually negative, however, the detection of Aspergillus IgG is a simple and sensitive test widely used in diagnosis. When a fungal ball/aspergilloma is visible radiologically, the diagnosis has been made late. Sometimes weight loss and fatigue are predominant symptoms; pyrexia is rare. Despite the efforts of the mycology community, and significant strides being taken in optimising the care of these patients, much remains to be learnt about this patient population, the disease itself and the best use of available therapies, with the development of new therapies being a key priority. Here, current knowledge and practices are reviewed, and areas of research priority highlighted.