RENAL INVASIVE ASPERGILLOMA - UNUSUAL INFECTION IN AIDS

Invasive aspergillosis is a devastating infection that mainly affects immunocompromised hosts. Nevertheless it is not a common infection in AIDS probably due to specific immune aspects. Evert more rare in this group of patients is infection limited to the kidney without dissemina tion as occurred in our case reported here. He had heroin addiction, A IDS ill advanced stage C3, neutropenia and received antifungal prophyl laxis as predisposing factors to aspergillosis. Despite correct therap y with Amphotericine B and drainage of one of the abscesses, he died d ue to antibiotic side-effects and persistence of not-drained contralat eral abscess. Our experience supports the fact that we should have a h igh index of suspicion for fungal aetiology in kidney infection in AID S patients with predisposing factors discussed in the text, in order t o make early diagnosis and to establish prompt aggressive antifungal t herapy supported by drainage of fungus collections, or even nephrectom y if required.