Biomarkers

Ref ID: 19349

Author:

B. Sendid and O. Marchetti

Author address:

Lille University Hospital, University Lille 2, France and Centre
Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switserland

Full conference title:

6th Trends in Medical Mycology 2013

Date: 11 October 2014

Abstract:

Invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) are common life-threatening compli-
cations in immunocompromised and critically ill patients. Evolving
underlying conditions and antifungal strategies have modified the
epidemiology of IFDs. For yeast infections a shift toward non-albicans
Candida species and an increasing incidence of candidemia have been
observed in many countries, IFDs caused by molds, including asper-
gillosis and emerging fungi are increasingly reported, particularly in
the hemato-oncological and ICU settings.
In view of the severe morbidity and high mortality of IFDs, accu-
rate diagnostic techniques allowing timely onset of adequate antifun-
gal therapy are of outstanding importance. Although conventional
approaches such as microscopy, culture, histopathological examina-
tion, and imaging methods represent the diagnostic gold standard,
low sensitivity and/or specificity as well as delayed positivity are their
major limitations.
New non-invasive non-culture-based diagnostic techniques, includ-
ing assays form the detection of fungal antigens (e.g. galactomannan,
mannan, (1,3)-beta-d-glucan) in blood and biological fluids and of
circulating antibodies directed against fungal polysaccharides and
proteins (e.g. anti-mannan, anti-galactomannan) as well as molecu-
lar-based tools (e.g. panfungal and species-specific PCRs detecting
fungal DNA in blood and tissues) have been developed during the
last decade. Some of them are now included as standard microbiolog-
ical criteria in the international diagnostic classification of IFDs by
the EORTC-MSG expert panel and are routinely used by clinicians as
diagnostic adjuncts for the early documentation of a fungal etiology
in febrile patients at high risk of IFD and presenting with suggestive
clinical and radiological findings.
This meet-the-expert session will be devoted to interactive case pre-
sentations giving an overview on indications, strengths, and draw-
backs of these biomarkers for an early and accurate diagnosis of IFDs.

Abstract Number: m10

Conference Year: 2013

Link to conference website: NULL

New link: NULL

Conference abstracts, posters & presentations

Showing 10 posts of 17325 posts found.

  • Title

    Author

    Year

    Number

    Poster