A bone marrow transplant patient develops an abrupt fever with respiratory distress.Despite treatment with antifungal medications, the patient dies on the fifth day.The following organism was isolated from both sputum and blood cultures.Identify the organism shown below.

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Aspergillus spp.are the second most isolated fungus after Candida spp.Neutropenia is the single most predictive factor for developing aspergillosis.Aspergillus spp.are the most frequent cause of disease in the bone marrow transplant recipient in addition to other cancer and transplant patients.Infection is initiated following inhalation of fungal conidia.In the lung air spaces, conidia germinate and invade the tissue.Within a few days, the patient develops a severe fever that fails to respond to antifungal therapy.CDC PHIL #300

A Bone Marrow Transplant Patient Develops an Abrupt Fever with Respiratory