Journal of the Korean Geriatrics Society  2010;14(1):42-47

doi:10.4235/jkgs.2010.14.1.42

A Case of Pseudomembranous Aspergillus Tracheobronchitis in a Patient with Diabetes Mellitus.

Young Arm YI 1 ; Jong Min KIM ; Se Jin HWANG ; Shi Jung SUNG ; Se Jin KIM ; Young Min KIM ; Kwang Won SEO ; Seung Won RA ; Yangjin JEGAL

Affiliations

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Keywords

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis; Bronchitis; Diabetes mellitus

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

Aspergillus tracheobronchitis is one form of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis which is characterized by ulcers and pseudomembrane formation in tracheobronchial tree. In Aspergillus tracheobronchitis, the infection is often limited to the mucosa and it accounts for less than 10 percents of invasive disease. Invasive aspergillosis mainly occurs in immunocompromized patients with prolonged neutropenia, advanced AIDS, organ transplantation, high-dose glucocorticoid therapy or cytotoxic therapy although it can occur in less immunocompromised patients, such as after influenza, COPD, old age, and diabetes. We report a case of Aspergillus tracheobronchitis in a 61 year-old patient with diabetes and Child Pugh class A liver cirrhosis. He presented with cough and purulent sputum for 10 days. He was diagnosed by bronchoscopy and successfully treated with antifungal therapy.