Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 7, 2026
Author Spotlight: Enhancing Candida albicans Detection in Catheter Infections Using Fluorescent Protein Tagging
Published on: March 22, 2024
Candida Surveillance in Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) in a Tertiary Institution
Yi Xin Liew1, Jocelyn Teo2, Irene Ai-Ling Too3
1Department of Pharmacy, Singapore General Hospital, Block 8 Level 2, Outram Road, Singapore, 169608, Singapore. liew.yi.xin@sgh.com.sg.
Background:
Colonization of patients occurs before development into invasive candidiasis. There is a need to determine the incidences of Candida colonization and infection in SICU patients, and evaluate the usefulness of beta-D-glucan (BDG) assay in diagnosing invasive candidiasis when patients are colonized.
Methods:
Clinical data and fungal surveillance cultures in 28 patients were recorded from November 2010, and January to February 2011. Susceptibilities of Candida isolates to fluconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B, micafungin, caspofungin and anidulafungin were tested via Etest. The utilities of BDG, Candida score and colonization index for candidiasis diagnosis were compared via ROC.
Results:
30 BDG assays were performed in 28 patients. Four assay cases had concurrent colonization and infection; 23 had concurrent colonization and no infection; three had no concurrent colonization and infection. Of 136 surveillance swabs, 52 (38.24 %) were positive for Candida spp, with C. albicans being the commonest. Azole resistance was detected in C. albicans (7 %). C. glabrata and C. tropicalis were, respectively, 100 and 7 % SDD to fluconazole. All 3 tests showed high sensitivity of 75-100 % but poor specificity ranging 15.38-38.46 %. BDG performed the best (AUC of 0.89).
Conclusions:
Despite that positive BDG is common in surgical patients with Candida spp colonization, BDG performed the best when compared to CI and CS.
More Related Videos
05:26Author Spotlight: Oral Candida Diagnosis to Advance Clinical Treatment Regimen for pSS Patients
Published on: March 1, 2024
08:31Candida albicans Biofilm Development on Medically-relevant Foreign Bodies in a Mouse Subcutaneous Model Followed by Bioluminescence Imaging
Published on: January 27, 2015
Related Concept Videos
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
01:26Urine Studies II: Urine Culture and Sensitivity Test
01:30Urinary Tract Infection III: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
01:20Sputum Studies II: Culture and Sensitivity
Sputum culture and sensitivity is a medical procedure used to diagnose bacterial infections in the respiratory tract and select the most appropriate antibiotics for treatment. This process involves analyzing sputum samples of thick and opaque secretions produced in the lungs and airways. These samples are collected from patients and then sent to the laboratory for analysis.
The test can identify various pathogens responsible for respiratory infections, including Streptococcus,...
01:18Endocarditis III: Medical Management
01:26Healthcare Associated Infections I: Iatrogenic, Exogenic and Endogenic
HAIs significantly increase the cost of health care. Extended stays in healthcare institutions, increased disability, increased costs of medications, including specialized antibiotics, and prolonged recovery times add to the patient's expenses and the healthcare institution and funding bodies.