A study of opportunistic mycosis in pulmonary diseases in a tertiary care hospital.

ABSTRACT

Background and Objectives: Opportunistic mycotic infection in pre-existing lung diseases like tuberculosis, lung abscess, COPD are overlooked by chest physicians due to the paucity of mycological investigation facilities. Methods: one hundred and fifty sputum samples were studied for opportunistic mycotic infections from inpatients of pulmonary disease in a tertiary care hospital. Sputum were subjected to Gram’s staining and culture on SDA with Chloramphenicol. Results: 99 fungal isolates were recovered from these samples. Out of these 99 fungal isolates 56(56.57%) were Candida species and 43(43.43%) were of Aspergillus species, of these Candida albicans was the predominant isolate followed by Candida tropicalis. Conclusion: Aspergillus fumigatus was the predominant isolate among Aspergillus species.