galactomannan and Respiratory-Tract-Infections

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.

Topics: Biomarkers; Fungi; Galactose; Humans; Mannans; Mycological Typing Techniques; Mycoses; Respiratory Tract Infections; Sensitivity and Specificity

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Bronchoscopy; Female; Fungi; Galactose; Hematologic Neoplasms; Humans; Interleukin-6; Interleukin-8; Male; Mannans; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Respiratory Tract Infections; ROC Curve

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Aspergillosis; Aspergillus; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Dithiothreitol; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Expectorants; Galactose; Humans; Mannans; Respiratory Tract Infections; Retrospective Studies