ASPERGILLUS-FUMIGATUS STRAINS RECOVERED FROM IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PATIENTS (ICP) - SUBTYPING OF STRAINS BY RAPD ANALYSIS

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients (ICP) i s the second most frequent opportunistic fungal infection. The causati ve organism includes 16 species of Aspergillus, of which A. fumigatus dominates the ubiquitous incidence of invasive or allergic broncho-pul monary aspergillosis (ABPA). The definitive diagnosis of invasive aspe rgillosis is difficult. We have analyzed 24 strains of A. fumigatus re covered from ICP using the RAPD technique. The profiles generated with the 20 primers tested were mostly unique. These results may have a pr ofound impact on the management of aspergillosis, especially in the IC P.