FUNGAL CHEST INFECTIONS AT THE LAGOS UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL

One hundred and ninety-six sputum specimens were collected from patients with suspected fungal chest infections between 1986 and 1989 at the Medical Out-patients Department of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Eighty-three fungal isolates were obtained representing 42.3 percent of specimens collected. Seventy per cent of the fungal isolates were due to species of either Candida or Aspergillus. Whilst the predisposing factors to Aspergillus infection were either due to tuberculosis or bronchial asthma, a high proportion of infection with Candida were due to patients with leukaemias and lymphomas. Diagnostic shortcomings in the cases studied are stressed. The widespread uncontrolled use of antibiotics and corticosteroids in Lagos, and the rising incidence of human immunodeficient virus infection makes it imperative to routinely investigate for fungal chest infections in Lagos.