Molecular overview on the epidemiology of Aspergillus spp. and other molds colonizing the upper respiratory tract of cystic fibrosis patients of Argentina.

BRITO DEVOTO, T; PEREDA, R; CUESTAS, ML; HERMIDA-ALAVA, KS; RUBEGLIO, E; POLA, SJ; FINQUELIEVICH, JL

Salvador

Congreso; 17th Infocus - 1st ISHAM Latin American; 2019

INFOCUS - ISHAM

Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) suffer from recurrent airway colonization by bacteria and fungi that may lead to chronic airway inflammation and respiratory failure. Progressive obstructive lung disease causes over 90% of deaths in patients with CF(1). Although the role in pathogenesis of molds like Aspergillus spp., is not clearly elucidated(2), their presence is associated with loss of respiratory function and allergic disease(3). Moreover, the knowledge on the prevalence of these microorganisms in CF patients in Latin America is scarce. Thus, the aim of this study was to provide an insight onto the diversity and molecular epidemiology of fungal species in CF patients from Argentina.