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Nonsporulating moulds (NSM) represent an identification challenge for clinical laboratories. Data on the prevalence of pathogenic species among NSM are lacking. We prospectively investigated consecutive thermotolerant (36°C) clinical NSM isolates from respiratory tract samples. A total of 123 isolates were identified by DNA sequencing and phenotypically characterized. Of those, 13 (11%) were pathogenic species (Aspergillus fumigatus, n = 10; A flavus, n = 1; A hiratsukae, n = 1; Schizophyllum commune, n = 1). Presumptive identification of Aspergillus species among NSM can be achieved by simple phenotypic testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]