The isolation of Aspergillus fumigatus from respiratory tract specimens in heart transplant recipients is highly predictive of XXXX .

@entity1 @entity57 @entity2286 @entity3 @entity9348
BACKGROUND: Prompt recognition of invasive @entity57 ( @entity9348 ) after heart transplantation is essential for achieving a successful outcome. However, the significance of the isolation of from respiratory specimens in heart transplant recipients is not established. METHODS: From 1990 to 1999, we analyzed first respiratory specimens with spp. growth from heart transplant @entity1 in our institution. All specimens were cultured in both fungal and conventional media. Diagnosis of proven and probable @entity9348 or colonization was made according to criteria of the Mycoses Study Group. RESULTS: During the 10-year study period, spp. was recovered from 30 episodes from 27 heart transplant recipients (incidence: 10.5%). Three episodes were classified as indeterminate and were included in the analysis in a double way, first considering them as true positives and afterward as true negatives, so ranges were obtained. After applying diagnostic criteria, 18 of 30 episodes were proven or probable @entity9348 , and 9 episodes were colonizations. Accordingly, 7 to 8% of heart transplant recipients suffered an @entity9348 , and the overall positive predictive value ( @entity2286 ) was 60% to 70%. When analyzed by species, the @entity2286 of recovering was 78% to 91%, whereas it was 0% for other species. The @entity2286 increased to 88% to 100% when was recovered from a respiratory specimen other than sputum and decreased to 50% to 67% when it was recovered from sputum. The sensitivities of fungal and conventional media for the recovery of spp. were 95% to 100% and 33% to 38%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The isolation of from the respiratory tract of a heart transplant recipient is highly predictive of @entity3 .
