Progress in the Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Disease in Children

Adilia Warris, Thomas Lehrnbecher

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review
This review summarizes the fungal diagnostic measures currently available for use in paediatric patients at high risk for developing invasive fungal disease (IFD) and those suspected of having an IFD. The clinical utility of each test is described based on reported performances of individual tests in specific paediatric populations.

Recent Findings
Available studies in the paediatric population are scarce and are characterized by a huge heterogeneity in underlying diseases (e.g. different risk for IFD), different study objectives and management strategies (screening versus diagnostic) used.

Summary
A final valuation of paediatric studies on fungal diagnostic tools is limited. While the galactomannan and fungal PCR assays are useful to exclude the presence of IFD, it is unclear if mannan, mannan antibodies and β-D-glucan are of benefit due to a lack of studies or validation of the cut-off, respectively. Well-designed multicentre paediatric studies are urgently needed to improve the outcome of IFD.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)35–44
Number of pages10
JournalCurrent Fungal Infection Reports
Volume11
Issue number2
Early online date2 May 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2017

Bibliographical note

Adilia Warris is supported by the Wellcome Trust Strategic Award (grant 097377) and the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology (grant MR/N006364/1) at the University of Aberdeen.

Keywords

  • invasive fungal disease
  • diagnostics
  • paediatric patients
  • imaging
  • Galactomannan
  • PCR

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