Thrush Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Thrush, including details on oral, vaginal, symptoms, prevention, treatment, infection.

Procalcitonin--a marker of invasive fungal infection?

Dornbusch HJ, Strenger V, Kerbl R, Lackner H, Schwinger W, Sovinz P, Urban C

Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescence Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Austria. hansjuergen.dornbusch@meduni-graz.at

Procalcitonin (PCT) has been described as a marker of bacterial sepsis. However, little is known of its diagnostic value in fungal infections. We calculated the sensitivity of PCT for detection of invasive fungal infections (IFI) by analyzing 55 episodes of proven or probable IFI (three in our series, 52 reported in the recent literature). In the early phase of IFI, PCT was elevated in fewer than half of invasive candidiasis episodes and in only one patient (5.3%) with invasive aspergillosis. Due to low sensitivity and specificity, PCT adds little to the diagnosis of IFI.

Published 2 May 2005 in Support Care Cancer, 13(5): 343-6.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Thrush Research Today. All Rights Reserved.