OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical characteristics of invasive pulmonary fungal infections (IPFI).

METHODSThe clinical data of 48 patients with confirmed IPFI at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2004 to December 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into primary IPFI group and secondary IPFI groups based on their disease courses.

RESULTSThe most commonly seen fungi were aspergillus species (37.5%) and cryptococcus species (37.5%), and community acquired infections accounted for 87.5%. The secondary IPFI accounted for 66.7% among all cases, in which the major pathogens were aspergillus species; in the primary IPFI group, the major pathogens were cryptococcus species. The symptoms of IPFI were non-specific and mostly presented as cough, fever, hemoptysis, and dyspnea. The common imaging features included multiple nodules, infiltrates and consolidations, or diffused lesions in bilateral lungs, and cavities were found in 11 patients (22.9%). The clinical symptoms and imaging findings were not significantly different between these two groups. A total of 46 patients (95.8%) received antifungal therapies or surgeries. Ten patients (20.8%; all from the secondary IPFI group) died, making the fatality rate significantly different between the primary IPFI group and secondary IPFI group (P=0.033).

CONCLUSIONSThe major pathogens of IPFI are aspergillus species and cryptococcus species, and most of them are community acquired. The secondary IPFI with aspergillus species tend to be highly fatal. The clinical symptoms and imaging features are non-specific. Early diagnosis with prompt antifungal therapies, or even with surgical intervention, may be beneficial for these patients.