Abstract
With the treatment of a fungal infection, detection of the fungus is the most reliable diagnosis. In the case of systemic fungal infection, such as sepsis or pneumoniae, isolation of the fungus is difficult. In this report we evaluate the significance of serological diagnosis, including measuring (1→3) β-D-glucan and the heat-labilecandidaantigen (Candi-tec antigien), for the detection of candidemia, when carrying out a culture test. (1→3) β-D-glucan were all positive in the candidemia cases which were positive for the blood-culture test. Candi-tec tests were performed in 9 among the 16 cases which were blood-culture positive. Two out of three Candi-tec negative cases showed a (1→3) β-D-glucan value higher than 300 pg/ml. The fluctuation of the values of (1→3) β-D-glucan clearly correlated to blood cultures in 10 out of 16 candidemia (63%) . Therefore, the value of (1→3) β-D-glucan may reflect the severity of candidemia. When diagnosing candidemia, the measurement of (1→3) β-D-glucan should not be overlooked when detecting existence of the canidida species.
