Abstract
In patients with blood diseases, maintaining a proper ward environment as regards temperature and humidity and effective drug treatment are important in preventing the development of deep mycosis. We investigated the influences of temperature and humidity and use of antifungal agents on the incidence of pulmonary aspergillosis in such patients. The subjects were 132 patients admitted to our hematology ward between January 1999 and December 2004. Of the 132 patients, 22 developed pulmonary aspergillosis but 110 did not. There were no significant differences in patient background between these patients. The incidence of pulmonary aspergillosis was high (observed significance level of test : 0.004) during summer when the mean humidity in the ward was high. Administration of the antifungal agent micafungin for prevention or treatment reduced incidence (observed significance level of test : 0.042). Based on these findings, we conclude that proper control of ward humidity and selection of an effective antifungal agent are important factors in reducing the incidence of aspergillosis in wards where patients are being treated for blood diseases.
