House
RoundsGuidelinesCalculatorsPricing
Sign inCreate account→
House

Citation-backed clinical intelligence for verified physicians.

Product

  • Rounds
  • Guidelines
  • Calculators
  • Pricing

Company

  • About
  • Editorial Policy

© 2026 House

For verified, licensed physicians. Not a substitute for clinical judgement.

Back to guidelines
Infectious Disease · IDSA

Invasive aspergillosis

IDSA
A
Source:IDSA 2016 Clinical Practice Guideline Update for the Diagnosis and Management of Aspergillosis (current2024 ISHAM update for ABPA)
Verified Apr 2026
Ask House about this guideline

Red Flags

  • Severely immunocompromised host (prolonged neutropenia, allogeneic HSCT, SOT, high-dose steroids) with new pulmonary infiltrate, sinusitis, or CNS lesion — empiric mould-active therapy pending workup[1]
  • Cavitary pulmonary infiltrate with halo/air-crescent sign on CT in immunocompromised — invasive pulmonary aspergillosis[1]
  • Massive haemoptysis from a known aspergilloma — interventional radiology embolisation; surgical resection if recurrent[1]
  • ABPA flare in asthma or cystic fibrosis (rising IgE, new infiltrates, mucous plugging, eosinophilia) — corticosteroids ± antifungal[2]

First-line treatment

Interventions

  • Source control and surgical resection[1]
    For aspergilloma with significant haemoptysis or refractory invasive disease in resectable foci; combined with systemic antifungal

First-line drug therapy

DrugClassAdultPaediatricNotes
Voriconazole[1]Triazole antifungalLoading 6 mg/kg IV q12h × 2 doses, then 4 mg/kg IV q12h or 200 mg PO BD; therapeutic drug monitoring (target trough 1–5.5 mg/L)9 mg/kg IV q12h loading then 8 mg/kg q12hPrimary therapy for invasive aspergillosis (pulmonary, sinus, CNS); monitor LFTs and visual side effects
Isavuconazole[1]Triazole antifungalLoading 200 mg PO/IV q8h × 6 doses, then 200 mg once daily—Alternative first-line; non-inferior to voriconazole, fewer drug interactions, no QTc prolongation, easier administration
Liposomal amphotericin B[1]Polyene antifungal3–5 mg/kg IV once daily3–5 mg/kg IV once dailySalvage or primary when triazoles contraindicated (drug interaction, refractory disease)
Caspofungin or anidulafungin[1]EchinocandinCaspofungin 70 mg loading then 50 mg IV daily—Salvage therapy or in combination for refractory disease; not for primary monotherapy
Posaconazole[1]Triazole (prophylaxis)300 mg PO BD × 1 day, then 300 mg daily (delayed-release tablet)—Prophylaxis in high-risk neutropenic patients (AML induction, GVHD)
Prednisolone (oral) for ABPA[2]Glucocorticoid0.5 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks then taper over 8–12 weeks—ABPA acute exacerbation; itraconazole 200 mg BD as steroid-sparing add-on
Voriconazole[1]
Triazole antifungal
Adult
Loading 6 mg/kg IV q12h × 2 doses, then 4 mg/kg IV q12h or 200 mg PO BD; therapeutic drug monitoring (target trough 1–5.5 mg/L)
Paediatric
9 mg/kg IV q12h loading then 8 mg/kg q12h
Primary therapy for invasive aspergillosis (pulmonary, sinus, CNS); monitor LFTs and visual side effects
Isavuconazole[1]
Triazole antifungal
Adult
Loading 200 mg PO/IV q8h × 6 doses, then 200 mg once daily
Paediatric
—
Alternative first-line; non-inferior to voriconazole, fewer drug interactions, no QTc prolongation, easier administration
Liposomal amphotericin B[1]
Polyene antifungal
Adult
3–5 mg/kg IV once daily
Paediatric
3–5 mg/kg IV once daily
Salvage or primary when triazoles contraindicated (drug interaction, refractory disease)
Caspofungin or anidulafungin[1]
Echinocandin
Adult
Caspofungin 70 mg loading then 50 mg IV daily
Paediatric
—
Salvage therapy or in combination for refractory disease; not for primary monotherapy
Posaconazole[1]
Triazole (prophylaxis)
Adult
300 mg PO BD × 1 day, then 300 mg daily (delayed-release tablet)
Paediatric
—
Prophylaxis in high-risk neutropenic patients (AML induction, GVHD)
Prednisolone (oral) for ABPA[2]
Glucocorticoid
Adult
0.5 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks then taper over 8–12 weeks
Paediatric
—
ABPA acute exacerbation; itraconazole 200 mg BD as steroid-sparing add-on

Safety-net

  1. Take voriconazole or isavuconazole exactly as prescribed; missing doses risks treatment failure and resistance[1]
  2. On voriconazole, expect transient visual disturbances (light flashes, blurring) — usually subside; report sustained changes[1]
  3. If you have ABPA, monitor for asthma flare or new haemoptysis — same-day medical review[2]

Referral criteria

  • Suspected invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised hostInfectious diseases and clinical microbiology same-day[1]
  • Massive haemoptysis from aspergillomaInterventional radiology for embolisation; thoracic surgery for resection[1]
  • Refractory or progressive aspergillosis on first-line triazoleInfectious diseases for salvage regimen and TDM review[1]
  • ABPA in asthma/CF with frequent exacerbationsPulmonology for combined steroid-antifungal management[2]

Clinical summary

Diagnosis and treatment of invasive aspergillosis (pulmonary, sinus, CNS, disseminated) and chronic forms; isavuconazole and voriconazole as first-line.

References

  1. 1.IDSA 2016 Clinical Practice Guideline Update for the Diagnosis and Management of Aspergillosis (current; 2024 ISHAM update for ABPA) (2016)
  2. 2.Revised ISHAM-ABPA working group clinical practice guidelines for diagnosing, classifying and treating allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis/mycoses. European Respiratory Journal (2024)

On this page

  • Red flags
  • First-line treatment
  • Safety-net
  • Referral
  • References