Update in the diagnostic and therapeutic approach of invasive aspergillosis in adult population

Abstract

The invasive fungal disease produced by Aspergillus spp., is the infection by filamentous fungi most frequently reported among immunocompromised individuals and responsible for a very high mortality in this group of patients. In recent years, important advances have been made both from the diagnostic and therapeutic point of view. At present, a series of risk factors associated with its development have been identified, allowing the categorization of patients in high, intermediate and low risk of invasive aspergillosis (IA); and diagnostic criteria have also been established that consider factors of the host, traditional mycological laboratory, biomarkers such as galactomannan and 1→3-β-d-glucan, together with the better understanding and interpretation of the tomographic images that have allowed to reach a consensus on the diagnostic categories. This added to the incorporation of new antifungals and therapeutic strategies in different scenarios, have allowed decreasing the associated mortality. In this review, are updated the epidemiological aspects, the risk factors, the diagnosis, prevention and prophylaxis as well as the therapeutic confrontation, including strategies for the use of empirical, precocious and directed antifungal therapy, as well as the most relevant aspects of the first-choice and alternative antifungals for the IA management.