Scedosporium apiospermum Complex: Diagnosis and Species Identification

Abstract

Fungi belonging to the Scedosporium apiospermum species complex have been known since the early 20th century as etiologic agents of human infections occurring in immunocompetent individuals as well as immunocompromised people. Additionally, these fungi are now recognized as common colonizers of the airways in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The prevalence and importance of these opportunistic pathogens have likely been underestimated, due to the absence of specific features on histological examination of biopsy specimens and the rapid and extensive growth of the aspergilli, which are frequently associated with Scedosporium species in respiratory secretions from CF patients or patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In this article, the literature on diagnostic and/or identification methods has been reviewed. Development of molecular tools brings about novel challenges in the field of diagnosis, and further studies are required to transfer these methods to routine clinical use.