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Published on: September 16, 2022
Evaluation of Serum Biomarkers for Improved Diagnosis of Candidemia
Amélie Kinet-Poleur1, Corentin Deckers1, Imane Saad Albichr1
1Laboratory Medicine-Microbiology, CHU UCL Namur, 5530 Yvoir, Belgium.
Background:
Candidemia, associated with high morbidity and mortality, remains challenging to diagnose due to the limitations of blood cultures. Serological biomarkers offer faster detection, enabling earlier treatment and improving outcomes.
Methods:
This study, conducted at CHU UCL Namur (August 2023-January 2025), evaluated three diagnostic biomarkers for candidemia: CAGTA IgG VirClia Monotest, Wako β-D-glucan test, and CandId OLM RT-PCR. A total of 35 candidemia cases and 20 controls were included.
Results:
CAGTA IgG VirClia Monotest demonstrated low sensitivity (46%) and moderate specificity (75%). Both Wako β-D-glucan test and CandId OLM RT-PCR exhibited higher sensitivity (74% and 71%, respectively) and excellent specificity (100%). The combined use of Wako β-D-glucan test and CandId OLM RT-PCR further enhanced diagnostic performance, achieving 91% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Misidentification between Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis was observed with CandId PCR, underlining a potential limitation in species-level discrimination.
Conclusions:
Both Wako β-D-glucan test and CandID OLM RT-PCR outperformed CAGTA IgG VirClia Monotest in diagnosing candidemia, and their combination significantly improved diagnostic accuracy, albeit at a higher cost. These findings highlight the potential of integrating multiple biomarkers into diagnostic workflows to optimize early detection, though further studies are needed to refine strategies and address challenges.
