Fatal pulmonary aspergillosis due to Aspergillus terreus

Purpose. Aspergillus terreus is widespread in the environment but reports o f human infections are uncommon. Recovery of this organism from the sputum may therefore be considered as representing a pulmonary infection. Patient. We describe here a case of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis due to A. terr eus in a 70-year-old female who had received cortisone and thyroxine for ab out 50 years for the treatment of Addison's disease. Diagnosis. The diagnosis wits based on the demonstration of dichotomously b ranched, septate, hyaline hyphal elements in freshly collected endotracheal secretion and sputum specimens, repeated isolation of A. terreus in cultur e and detection of Aspergillus antigen in the patient's serum Conclusion. The report underscores the importance of A. terreus as potentia l respiratory pathogen and suggests that its recovery from clinical specime ns should not be regarded as insignificant, particularly in immunocompromis ed hosts.