Clinical Significance of Pastorex Candida Antigen Assay in Patients with Candidemia.
- Author:
Chang Jae LEE
1
;
Jong Hee SHIN
;
Ji Yon YI
;
Seung Jung KEE
;
Soon Pal SUH
;
Dong Wook RYANG
Author Information
1. Department of Clinical Pathology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Pastorex candida;
Candida antigen;
Candidemia;
Invasive candidiasis
- MeSH:
Candida*;
Candidemia*;
Candidiasis, Invasive;
Central Venous Catheters;
Colon;
Diagnosis;
Diagnosis, Differential;
Humans;
Incidence;
Latex Fixation Tests;
Mannans;
Sensitivity and Specificity
- From:Korean Journal of Clinical Pathology
2001;21(1):53-58
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: The incidence of candidemia has increased, and an early differentiation of transient or central venous catheter (CVC)-related candidemia from deep-seated invasive candidiasis is often difficult. The Pastorex Candida antigen assay (Sanofi Diagnostics Pasteur, Marnes-la-Coquette, France) is known to be an useful and specific tool for the diagnosis of invasive candidiasis. We assessed the clinical significance of Pastorex Candida antigen assay in patients with candidemia. METHODS: Eighty-five sera from 27 patients with candidemia and 42 control sera (32 patients with superficial Candida colonization and 10 healthy subjects) were tested. The Pastorex Candida latex agglutination test was performed to evaluate the presence of Candida mannan antigen. Candidemia was divided into 3 categories; (i) transient, (ii) CVC-related, and (iii) non-CVC-related persistent types. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients with superficial Candida colonization and 10 healthy subjects were negative for the Pastorex Candida antigen. Of the 85 sera from 27 patients with candidemia, 14 (16.4%) were positive for the Pastorex Candida antigen. The Pastorex Candida antigen was detected neither in 6 patients with transient candidemia nor 15 patients with CVC-related candidemia. Conversely, it was detected in at least one serum sample of 5 of the 6 (83.3%) patients with non-CVC-related persistent candidemia. Of the 24 sera from 6 patients with non-CVC-related persistent candidemia, 14 (58.3%) were positive for the Pastorex Candida antigen. Overall, the sensitivity and specificity of the Pastorex Candida antigen assay for the diagnosis of non-CVC-related persistent candidemia were 83.3% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the Pastorex Candida antigen assay has a potential for the differential diagnosis of non-CVC-related persistent candidemia from transient or CVC-related candidemia.
