[Usefulness of serology in the diagnosis of Candida tropicalis septicemia]

In this study, we have evaluated the usefulness of eight serologic tests in the diagnosis of a Candida tropicalis septicaemia in a patient with acute myeloid leukaemia. Among the tests used, detection of mannose and candida antigen in serum allowed a high degree of suspicion of infection, earlier than the isolation of this species on mycological cultures from blood or oesophagic samples. Detection of anti-C. albicans antibodies was useless but low titres of anti-C. tropicalis antibodies were observed. In spite of early diagnosis and antifungal treatment, the complication of the disseminated candidiasis with a Pseudomonas aeruginosa septicaemia, concluded with the patient's exitus.