Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2011, 12(9), 5871-5877; doi:10.3390/ijms12095871
Article

Diagnostic Performance of 1→3-β-D-Glucan in Neonatal and Pediatric Patients with Candidemia

Maria Teresa Montagna 1,* email, Caterina Coretti 1 email, Grazia Lovero 1 email, Osvalda De Giglio 1 email, Osvaldo Montagna 2 email, Nicola Laforgia 2 email, Nicola Santoro 3 email and Giuseppina Caggiano 1 email
1 Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology—Hygiene Section, University of Bari, “Aldo Moro”, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy 2 Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology—Neonatology and Neonatology Intensive Care Section, University of Bari, “Aldo Moro”, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy 3 U.O. Pediatrics “F.Vecchio”, A.O.U. Policlinico Consorziale, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 14 July 2011; in revised form: 1 September 2011 / Accepted: 6 September 2011 / Published: 14 September 2011
(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Diagnostics)
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Abstract: Fungal sepsis is one of the major problems in neonatal and pediatric care unit settings. The availability of new diagnostic techniques could allow medical practitioners to rapidly identify septic patients and to improve their outcome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the 1→3-β-D-glucan (BDG), individually and in comparison with the Candida mannan (CM) antigen, in ten preterm infants and five onco-haematological pediatric patients with Candida bloodstream infections already proven by positive culture. The serum levels of BDG were >80 pg/mL on the same day as a positive blood culture in all examined patients, while CM antigen was negative in the patients with C. parapsilosis fungemia and in one further case due to C. albicans. These results suggest that a regular monitoring of serum circulating antigens (i.e., 1→3-β-D-glucan) combined with other microbiological and clinical information, may allow earlier and accurate diagnosis. However, further studies are necessary to confirm its usefulness in routine clinical practice.
Keywords: candidemia; 1→3-β-D-glucan; mannan antigen; pediatric patients

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Cite This Article

MDPI and ACS Style

Montagna, M.T.; Coretti, C.; Lovero, G.; Giglio, O.D.; Montagna, O.; Laforgia, N.; Santoro, N.; Caggiano, G. Diagnostic Performance of 1→3-β-D-Glucan in Neonatal and Pediatric Patients with Candidemia. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2011, 12, 5871-5877.

AMA Style

Montagna MT, Coretti C, Lovero G, Giglio OD, Montagna O, Laforgia N, Santoro N, Caggiano G. Diagnostic Performance of 1→3-β-D-Glucan in Neonatal and Pediatric Patients with Candidemia. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2011; 12(9):5871-5877.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Montagna, Maria Teresa; Coretti, Caterina; Lovero, Grazia; Giglio, Osvalda De; Montagna, Osvaldo; Laforgia, Nicola; Santoro, Nicola; Caggiano, Giuseppina. 2011. "Diagnostic Performance of 1→3-β-D-Glucan in Neonatal and Pediatric Patients with Candidemia." Int. J. Mol. Sci. 12, no. 9: 5871-5877.

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