This publication attempted to evaluate the frequency of mold colonization and infection and the procalcitonin serum concentrations (PCT) among lung transplant recipients.

 

Methods and materials:

 

        We included 49 patients (36 males and 13 females) of mean age at transplantation of 47.1 ± 13.6 years. Molds were isolated using routine microbiologic methods. PCT (ng/mL) was measured using an immunoluminescence assay with values below 0.5 showing no probability of infection, 0.5 to 2.0, a moderate infection risk; 2.0 to 10, a high infection risk; and above 10 high sepsis risk.

 

Results:

 

        Twenty-four (49%)patients revealed the presence of molds in material from the lower respiratory tract (sputum, tracheal, or tracheobronchial aspirate), mini-bronchoalveolar lavage. Aspergillus species was isolated in 14 (28.6%) patients, Penicillium in 7 (14.3%) patients, and Zygomycetes fungi in 9 (18.4%) patients. The average PCT value from 61 examinations of PCT during fungal isolation was 0.5 ± 0.7 ng/mL. However, when the studied group was categorized according to the PCT range, the rates for the groups were no infection (n = 30; 49.2%), moderate (n = 20; 32.8%), high (n = 9; 14.8%) and high sepsis risk (n = 2; 3.3%).

 

Conclusions:

 

        The mold colonization of transplanted lung is a frequent complication and should be considered even in the case of proper prophylaxis. Procalcitonin might be the marker helpful in mold infection diagnosis.

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