A case of invasive broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis associated with influenza A (H3N2) infection]

A 49-year-old man with high alcohol consumption was admitted with fever, cough and progressive dyspnea after a one week history of influenza-like symptoms. Chest X-ray film on admission showed diffuse peribronchial shadows and patchy infiltration in the right lower lung field. Chest X-ray film the following day and chest CT film on the 4th day of admission showed multiple nodular shadows and cavity formation. At bronchoscopy the bronchial surface was covered by white plaque, and Asp. fumigatus was subsequently cultured from BAL fluid. On the basis of suspected invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, anti-fungal agents were commenced. However, the shadows on chest X-ray increased, and the patient died on the 10th day of admission of respiratory failure and septic shock. Histological examination revealed bronchial wall invasion by hyphae of aspergillus and abscess formation in the pulmonary parenchyma. The precipitin antibody against aspergillus antigen was positive in reserved serum. Anti-Influenza A virus antibody (CF) was positive (X 256), and hemagglutination inhibition test of Influenza A (H3N2) was positive (X 2048) in serum on admission. The suppression of cellular immunity and destruction of the mucociliary system of airways induced by Influenza A infection was suspected to have predisposed to aspergillus superinfection.