Aspergillus is a group of moulds that can be found throughout the world. They are especially prevalent in the Northern Hemisphere during the autumn and winter, and are also very common within the home. Only a few of the Aspergillus moulds can cause illness in humans and animals (N.B. moulds are also referred to as filamentous fungi). Most people are naturally immune and do not develop disease. However, when disease does occur, it takes several forms.
Diseases caused by Aspergillus are called aspergillosis. These types of diseases are varied, ranging from an allergy-type illness to life-threatening generalised infection. The severity of aspergillosis is determined by various factors, one of the most important being the state of the patient’s immune system.
Common Aspergillus Conditions
Visit these pages to find out more about the clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of common Aspergillus conditions:
Click here for a comprehensive scientific overview of Aspergillus and aspergillosis (N.B. this was produced in 2006)
Transmission between people
Aspergillus is not communicable or transmissible between people, so isolation is not required.
Antifungal drugs
Antifungal drugs are classified into 6 categories: Azoles, Echinocandins, Polyenes, Triterpenoids and Other.
Oral antifungals are the mainstay of managing most patients with aspergillosis; some conditions may be suitable for surgery or immunotherapy. Other treatments (especially oral corticosteroids) are required for allergic conditions such as ABPA where the body over-reacts to the presence of fungi, although antifungals may play a role in reducing the fungal burden of the patient. Unfortunately no vaccines are currently approved for fungal conditions, but several are in development.