Serological diagnosis of infection of the urinary tract by yeasts

Precipitins to mannan and cytoplasmic antigens of Candida albicans and Torulopsis glabrata were determined in 25 patients with colonization of the bladder urine by yeasts and in 25 control patients with bacteriuria. Precipitins were present in 64% of the patients with funguria and in 56% of the patients with bacteriuria. There was no correlation between the reactions obtained and the clinical significance of the yeast colonization. It is suggested that a single precipitin test is unhelpful in the assessment of the significance of urinary colonization by yeasts in hospital patients.