Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Isolation and Purification of Fungal β-Glucan as an Immunotherapy Strategy for Glioblastoma
Published on: June 2, 2023
Serum β-d-glucan of critically ill patients with suspected ventilator-associated pneumonia: preliminary observations
Daren Heyland1, Xuran Jiang2, Andrew G Day2
1Department of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada; Critical Care, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada; Clinical Evaluation Research Unit, Kingston General Hospital, Kingston, ON, Canada K7L 2V7.
Background:
The purpose of this pilot study was to determine whether β-d-glucan (BG) was associated with Candida in the lung and risk of death in patients with suspected ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).
Methods:
In a single-center observational study, we enrolled eligible adults within 24 hours of intensive care unit admission. Patients who developed suspected VAP were divided into 3 groups according to culture results. Serum BG levels and clinical outcomes were collected.
Results:
Fifty-seven patients were included; 26 had no growth, 19 patients grew pathogenic bacteria only, and 12 patients grew only Candida. The proportion of patients with a positive BG tended to be greater in the Candida group (66.7% vs 26.3% in bacteria group vs 50.0% in culture-negative group, P = .09). The BG-positive patients were much more likely to die by day 28 than the BG-negative patients (odds ratio, 4.2; 95% confidence limits, 1.1-15.7; P = .03). Patients with both BG positivity and Candida in their lung secretions were much more likely to die compared with patients who did not.
Conclusions:
β-d-Glucan positivity in patients with a suspected VAP may be a marker for Candida in the lung and worse outcomes. Further validation of this postulate is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment
Pneumonia IV: Management
Bacterial Pneumonia Treatment
For bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics serve as the cornerstone of therapy. Initial treatment often begins with empirical antibiotics, tailored to the anticipated causative organism and adjusted based on culture results. Key antibiotic choices include:
Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology
Pneumonia I: Introduction
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...
Pneumonia I: Introduction
Acute Respiratory Failure-III
