Cytologic Assessment of Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Immunocompromised Subjects in Maiduguri North Eastern, Nigeria

Abstract

Immuno-suppression due to underlying disease states such as HIV/AIDS, immune-modulator therapy for the prevention of rejection in solid organ and hematopoietic cell transplantation and cancer therapies has lead to increase incidence of fungal infections (Libanore et al., 2002). Fungal infections of the lung are among the most feared infections in immune-compromised patients. Aspergillus is the most common ubiquitary opportunistic pathogen affecting the lung (Bernhard et al., 2008). Aspergillus forms a genus of ubiquitous, dimorphic molds present in soil, various types of organic debris, water, indoor environment, and many other sites (Al-Alawi et al., 2005; Zmeili and Soubani, 2007). The study was a cross sectional and prospective study. Seventy-seven (77) subjects made up of fifty (50) Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive patients and Twenty-seven (27) HIV- negative patient from Direct Observed Treatment Shot course (DOTS) Clinic, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. The sex distribution of Aspergillosis was highest in females in age group 21-30years and in males in age group 31-40years.