NOSOCOMIAL ASPERGILLOSIS - AN OVERVIEW OF ITS CAUSES AND PREVENTION

During the last decades a sharp increase in the occurrence of invasive aspergillosis associated with a high mortality has been observed. Thi s fact is mainly due to an increase in the number of immunosuppressed patients. Nosocomial aspergillosis usually is of exogenous origin and often related to building construction and reconstruction, road constr uction, contaminated ventilation systems and contaminated soil of pot plants. By institution of suitable prophylactic measures a reduction o f incidence and mortality of invasive aspergillosis can be achieved. T his review gives a short introduction into the epidemiology, pathogene sis and diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis and, in the second part su mmarizes internationally recommended guidelines for prevention of this severe complication.