Epidemiology of invasive aspergillosis in a fourth level hospital in Bogotá, Colombia: a retrospective study

Invasive Aspergillosis (IA), chronic pulmonary aspergillosis and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis are the main clinical forms of aspergillosis, an opportunistic mycosis caused by species of the genus Aspergillus, mainly A. fumigatus, which are a group of filamentous fungi whose spores are transmitted through the air. Notably, the prevalence of AI, whose mortality rate can exceed 90%, is increasing due to the increase of different immunosuppressive treatments, especially in patients with transplants, and the increased use of corticoids in patients with chronic obstructive disease. Additionally, AI is considered an emerging mycosis in patients in intensive care units, mainly due to the dispersion of spores through the hospital ventilation systems. Although in Colombia the number of cases per year of the different forms of aspergillosis has been estimated, there are no studies in the country with real data on the prevalence of this mycosis that can validate these estimates. On the other hand, in Colombia the surveillance of most of the mycoses, including aspergillosis, is not mandatory, so many epidemiological data are lacking. In this way, the project seeks to identify ICF patients with a higher risk of developing AI, as well as to determine therapeutic strategies that lead to better outcomes. Knowing the characteristics of the population served in the institution and affected by AI is essential to consider early interventions and prevention measures in certain groups that may present more risk of complications and thus reduce mortality. Because reports on the epidemiology of aspergillosis in Colombia are very scarce, this study seeks to provide real data that contribute, not only regionally but nationally and internationally, to the study of AI, one of the most lethal clinical forms of aspergillosis.

Aspergillus spp., aspergilosis invasiva, Colombia

1. Preparación de un manuscrito para ser sometido a publicación en una revista internacional indexada.
2. Participación de estudiantes en un semillero de investigación y un proyecto de investigación, lo cual influenciará en su formación científica e incentivará a otros estudiantes.
3. Presentación de los resultados del estudio en un semillero de investigación
4. Socialización de los resultados del estudio en la Fundación Cardioinfantil
5. Presentación de los resultados del estudio en un evento científico nacional o internacional