A CPAnet consensus statement on research priorities for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis: a neglected fungal infection that requires attention

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a severe fungal infectionwith a highmorbidity andmortality, and is usually
seen in immunocompetent patients with respiratory disorders. Clinical presentation is nonspecific and often overlaps
with the symptoms and the radiological pattern caused by the underlying disease. Clinical management of
CPA is further hampered by limited information about the epidemiology, disease dynamics, sensitivity and specificity
of differentmycological tests,mechanisms of antifungal resistance, efficient treatment andmanagement strategies.
In order to contribute to a better understanding and to improve CPA patientmanagement and outcome, we
established the Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis Network (CPAnet), a self-organizedmultinational research collaboration.
Key research priorities, defined by using a modified Delphi process, include the establishment of a multinational
web-based registry, the validation of different diagnostic tests, the establishment of a culture collection from
samples of patientswith proven CPA and the establishment of a consensus on a treatment outcome definition.