Table 1.

The inclusion criteria of IPA

Meet the conditions of both clinical criteria and objective evidence of Aspergillus
Clinical criteria:1+  2 and/or 3, <1 month from onset
1. signs or symptoms in recent one month, the presence of at least 1 of the following:
a. Fever, refractory to at least 3 days or recrudescent fever after a period of defeverescence in spite of appropriate antibiotic therapy
b. dyspnea
c. Haemoptysis
d. Pleural friction rub or chest pain
e. Worsening respiratory insufficiency in spite of appropriate antibiotic therapy and ventilatory support
2. Radiological criteria, the presence of at least 1 of the following:
a. Imaging signs presented in EORTC/MSG criteria: dense, well-circumscribed lesions with or without a halo sign; air-crescent sign; cavity
b. Any other infiltrate on pulmonary imaging
3. Bronchoscopy: Tracheobronchial ulceration, nodule, pseudomembrane, plaque, or eschar seen on bronchoscopy analysis
Objective evidence of Aspergillus, the presence of at least 1 of the following:
1. A positive Aspergillus culture from low respiratory tract
2. A GM optical index on BALF of ≥1
3. A GM optical index on serum of ≥0.5
4. Recovery of Aspergillus by culture of tissue or sterile material
5. Histopathologic examination of a specimen obtained by biopsy in which Aspergillus hyphae were seen accompanied by evidence of associated tissue damage

GM Galactomannan

BALF Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid