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[Yeasts: cause of infections of the respiratory tract?]

R Ringelmann1, M Müllensiefen

  • 1Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Immunologie, Universität Freiburg.

Immunitat Und Infektion
|February 1, 1989
PubMed

Insights

Yeasts colonize the respiratory tract in less than 0.2% of patients, but over 20% in intensive care units. New antigen tests aid in diagnosing yeast infections like fungaemia.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Critical Care Medicine

Background:

  • Limited literature exists on yeast prevalence in the respiratory tract.
  • Yeasts are opportunistic pathogens, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify yeast colonization rates in the respiratory tract.
  • To assess the diagnostic value of new Candida antigen tests for fungaemia.

Main Methods:

  • Surveillance of yeast concentrations in respiratory secretions.
  • Evaluation of Candida antigen test titers.
  • Correlation of findings with clinical data from intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

Main Results:

  • Respiratory yeast colonization rates were below 0.2% (10^4-10^5 concentration).
  • Over 20% of ICU patients showed yeast colonization.
  • A Candida antigen titer > 1:4 strongly indicated fungaemia.

Conclusions:

  • Yeast colonization is significantly higher in ICU patients.
  • Early detection of yeast in multiple sites and blood is crucial for diagnosing invasive candidiasis.
  • New Candida antigen tests are valuable for identifying fungaemia.

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