Nonmolecular methods for the diagnosis of respiratory fungal infections.

Frédéric Lamoth, Barbara D Alexander

Journal: Clinics in laboratory medicine 2015;34(2):315-36

PMID: 24856530

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

Diagnosis of invasive fungal pneumonias by conventional culture methods is difficult to assess and often delayed. Nonmolecular fungal markers have emerged as an important adjunctive tool to support their diagnosis in combination with other clinical, radiologic, and microbiological criteria of invasive fungal diseases. Concerns about the sensitivity and specificity of some tests in different patient populations should lead to warnings about their widespread use. None can identify the emerging and particularly deadly fungal pathogens responsible for mucormycosis. The role of nonmolecular fungal markers should be better defined in combination with other microbiological and radiologic tools in preemptive antifungal strategies.

Address: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Box 102359, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, 108 Carl building, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Infectious Diseases Service and Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital, Rue du Bugnon 46, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland. Electronic address: [email protected].; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Box 102359, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, 108 Carl building, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.cll.2014.02.006

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MeSH Terms: Biomarkers, Fungi, Galactose, Humans, Mannans, Mycological Typing Techniques, Mycoses, Respiratory Tract Infections, Sensitivity and Specificity