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Biomarkers of fungal lung infection

José-Artur Paiva1,2,3, José M Pereira1,2,3

  • 1Intensive Care Medicine Department, Centro Hospitalar São João.

Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases
|January 15, 2019
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Early diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) and mucormycosis is critical. Biomarkers like galactomannan show promise for diagnosing and monitoring these severe fungal lung infections.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pulmonology

Background:

  • Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) and mucormycosis incidence is rising in both neutropenic and nonneutropenic patients.
  • These fungal infections are significant causes of mortality, necessitating prompt diagnosis and treatment.
  • Effective management hinges on early detection and appropriate antifungal therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of biomarkers in managing invasive fungal lung infections.
  • To assess current and emerging biomarkers for diagnosing and monitoring IPA and mucormycosis.
  • To highlight the importance of biomarkers in improving patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on fungal lung infection biomarkers.
  • Analysis of diagnostic performance of galactomannan and PCR-based methods.
  • Evaluation of novel biomarkers under investigation.

Main Results:

  • Galactomannan in bronchoalveolar lavage offers the highest diagnostic accuracy for IPA.
  • Serum galactomannan can predict patient outcomes and monitor treatment response.
  • Standardized PCR techniques have improved IPA and mucormycosis diagnosis, though new biomarkers have not surpassed existing ones.

Conclusions:

  • Biomarkers are crucial for early diagnosis, prognosis, and response monitoring of fungal lung infections.
  • Combining biomarkers, including galactomannan, may enhance diagnostic accuracy.
  • Further research is required to optimize biomarker strategies for clinical application.

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