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Histological Quantification to Determine Lung Fungal Burden in Experimental Aspergillosis
Published on: March 9, 2018
Update on the laboratory diagnosis of invasive fungal infections
Brunella Posteraro1, Riccardo Torelli, Elena De Carolis
1Institute of Microbiology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo F. Vito, 1-00168, Rome, Italy.
Abstract:
Recent advances in the management of patients with haematological malignancies and transplant recipients have paralleled an increase in the incidence of fungal diseases due to pathogenic genera such as Candida and Aspergillus and the emergence of less common genera including Fusarium and Zygomycetes. Despite availability of new antifungal agents these opportunistic infections have high mortality. Rapid and reliable species identification is essential for antifungal treatment, but detection of the increasing diversity of fungal pathogens by conventional phenotypic methods remains difficult and time-consuming, and the results may sometimes be inconclusive, especially for unusual species. New diagnostic techniques (e.g., 1,3-beta-d-glucan detection) could improve this scenario, although further studies are necessary to confirm their usefulness in clinical practice.
Insights
Fungal infections are increasing in immunocompromised patients, posing a high mortality risk. Current diagnostic methods struggle with identifying diverse fungal species, necessitating advanced techniques for effective antifungal treatment.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Clinical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Advances in managing hematological malignancies and transplant recipients have led to increased opportunistic fungal infections.
- Pathogenic fungi like Candida and Aspergillus, along with emerging genera such as Fusarium and Zygomycetes, are causing more infections.
- Despite new antifungal drugs, these infections have high mortality rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the challenges in diagnosing emerging fungal diseases in immunocompromised patients.
- To emphasize the need for rapid and reliable species identification for effective antifungal therapy.
- To explore the potential of novel diagnostic techniques in improving fungal disease management.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on fungal infections in immunocompromised hosts.
- Discussion of limitations of conventional phenotypic methods for fungal identification.
- Exploration of emerging diagnostic technologies, including 1,3-beta-d-glucan detection.
Main Results:
- The incidence of fungal diseases, including those caused by less common genera, is rising.
- Conventional diagnostic methods are often slow, difficult, and inconclusive for diverse fungal pathogens.
- New diagnostic approaches show promise but require further clinical validation.
Conclusions:
- Accurate and timely fungal species identification is critical for guiding antifungal treatment in high-risk patients.
- Current diagnostic limitations contribute to the high mortality associated with these opportunistic infections.
- Further research into novel diagnostic tools is essential to improve patient outcomes.
