Profile of Respiratory Tract Aspergillus Infection among Clinically Suspected Pulmonary Tuberculosis Cases in a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Pulmonary aspergillosis has clinical characteristics which are very similar to tuberculosis and are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. The objective of the study was to isolate and identify Aspergillus species from sputum samples from clinically suspected pulmonary tuberculosis cases. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2021 to December 2021 in the Department of Microbiology of Sir Salimullah Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh. A total of 176 sputum samples were collected from clinically suspected pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was detected by Gene Xpert from the sputum sample. Aspergillus was identified by KOH mount microscopy and culture on Sabouraud's chloramphenicol agar media with Gentamicin. Species identification of Aspergillus was done by colony characteristics and lactophenol cotton blue staining using direct microscopy. In this study, out of 176 sputum samples, Mycobacterium tuberculosis was detected by Gene Xpert in 28(15.91%) sputum samples. Aspergillus fumigatus 12(50%) was the commonest isolated species, followed by Aspergillus niger 7(29.17%). The frequency of Mycobacterium tuberculosis co-infection with Aspergillus was 7(25.0%) while the frequency of Aspergillus infection among patients with suspected tuberculosis was 24(13.64%). Respiratory tract Aspergillus infection can coexist with pulmonary tuberculosis. Mycological investigation of all clinically suspected pulmonary tuberculosis patients should be advocated before starting treatment which ultimately helps the treatment and management of the patient.