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Use of Image Cytometry for Quantification of Pathogenic Fungi in Association with Host Cells

Published on: June 19, 2013

Histopathologic diagnosis of fungal infections in the 21st century

Jeannette Guarner1, Mary E Brandt

  • 1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. jguarne@emory.edu

Clinical Microbiology Reviews
|April 13, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Histopathology remains crucial for diagnosing fungal infections by examining tissue invasion and host response. Advanced techniques aid in identifying specific fungal agents and dual infections.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Histopathology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Fungal infections are increasing due to larger at-risk populations and advanced medical treatments.
  • Histopathology is vital for detecting fungal invasion and host reactions, aiding interpretation of culture and PCR results.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To emphasize the role of histopathology in diagnosing fungal infections.
  • To highlight the importance of descriptive pathology reports and differential diagnoses.
  • To discuss advanced techniques for specific fungal identification.

Main Methods:

  • Histopathologic examination of tissue for fungal morphology, invasion, and host response.
  • Review of diagnostic challenges due to non-specific fungal morphology.
  • Application of ancillary techniques like immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and PCR.
  • Utilizing laser microdissection for complex cases.

Main Results:

  • Histopathology detects fungal invasion and host reactions, crucial for interpreting other diagnostic tests.
  • Morphological identification of fungi is often non-specific, necessitating a descriptive approach.
  • Ancillary techniques and laser microdissection improve the accuracy of identifying specific fungal agents and dual infections.

Conclusions:

  • Histopathology is an indispensable tool for fungal infection diagnosis, focusing on tissue invasion and host response.
  • Pathology reports should be descriptive, include differential diagnoses, and leverage advanced techniques for precise identification.
  • Emerging methods are essential for diagnosing increasingly common and complex fungal infections.

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