Abstract

Aspergillus tracheobronchitis (ATB) is a rare cause of respiratory failure in the critical care unit. Most commonly occurring in immunocompromised patients with underlying haematological malignancy, solid organ transplant, or HIV/AIDs, ATB is infrequently encountered in patients without underlying immunologic derangement.  This brief report describes a single case of ATB in a critically ill patient with no known history of immunosuppression. Bronchoscopy confirmed the diagnosis of ATB and Aspergillus fumigatus was cultured from bronchoscopy and autopsy specimens. The diagnostic features of A. tracheobronchitis are highlighted with bronchoscopic and post-mortem images. A literature review highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges associated with A. tracheobronchitis in the critically ill.

Key words: Aspergillus tracheobronchitis, respiratory failure, fungal infections.