Objective: Lung infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in neutropenic patients. It was aimed to determine the fungal agents, clinical and microbiological characteristics of lung infections in febrile neutropenic patients.

Material and Method: Febrile neutropenic patients whose fever did not regress despite broad-spectrum antibacterial therapy and who were suspected of invasive fungal infection were evaluated. Those with newly developed infiltration on posterior anterior chest radiography or newly developed nodule, ʺhalo signʺ, consolidation, ʺreverse halo signʺ, cavitation, and air-crescent sign on thorax computer tomography were included in the study. Microscopic examination, bacterial and fungal culture cultivation, galactomannan antigen, Aspergillus fumigatus and Pneumocystis jirovecii polymerase chain reaction test were performed on the collected serum and bronchoalveolar lavage samples.

Results: Two patients were classified as definite, 32 patients as probable, 12 patients as suspected invasive fungal infection and 27 patients as non-invasive fungal infection. The sensitivity and specificity of the GM antigen test in serum were found as 74,4% and 100% respectively. In BAL, the sensitivity and specificity were found to be 66,7%, 71,4%, 47,6%, and 100%, respectively, with cut-off values of 0,5 and 1. The sensitivity and specificity of the LightMix A. fumigatus PCR test in serum were calculated as 67,9% and 5,9%, and the sensitivity and specificity in BAL were calculated as 81% and 14,3%, respectively.

Conclusion: In the diagnosis of IFI, LightMix A. fumigatus PCR test may be more helpful in BAL than in serum. Bronchoalveolar lavage GM is more valuable in diagnosis in patients using antifungal treatments/prophylaxis.