Microbiological Laboratory Testing in the Diagnosis of Fungal Infections in Pulmonary and Critical Care Practice
Key Points
Key Points
- The rising prevalence of fungal infections is likely related to several factors, including an ever-growing population of susceptible patients.
- Furthermore, endemic mycoses continue to pose a threat to both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed individuals.
- Recent advances in laboratory diagnostics have evolved to assist the diagnosis of pulmonary fungal infections.
- These guidelines focus on the use of galactomannan (GM) antigen and PCR testing in the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), (1➝3)-β-D-glucan (BDG) assays or invasive candidiasis (IC), and the use of antigen and antibody testing in the diagnosis of endemic mycoses.
Diagnosis
...Diagnosis...
...Table 2. Recommendations...
...th severe immune compromise, such as those with n...
...patients suspected of invasive fungal dise...
...Invasive pulmo...
...atients with severe immune compromise, such as th...
...tients with severe immune compromise, such as th...
...ients with severe immune compromise, such as tho...
...Candidi...
...n critically ill patients in whom ther...
...commends the use of Histoplasma antigen...
...TS suggests the use of Histoplasma...
...Blastomyc...
...th appropriate geographic exposure...
...with suspected blastomycosis, the ATS...
...ients with suspected blastomycosis, parti...
...Coccidioidomycos...
...with appropriate geographic exposure an...
In patients with suspected coccidioidomycos...
...with suspected community acquired pneumonia...