Laboratory diagnosis of invasive mycoses.
Rising numbers of immunocompromised patients have led to an ever-increasing population at risk of invasive fungal disease. Much has been achieved in the laboratory diagnosis of these infections, such as advances in blood culture systems, and the development of new biochemical, antigen detection assays, and molecular methodologies. More standardized susceptibility testing guidelines provide for better therapeutic interventions. In an era of economic cutbacks in health care, future challenges include the development of cost-effective and technically simplified systems, which provide early detection and identification of common and emerging fungal pathogens. It will, however, take some time to establish the clinical relevance of these new methodologies in different patient populations.
Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Building 10, Room 13N-240, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. oshaughe@mail.nih.gov
Elizabeth M
EM
O'Shaughnessy
Yvonne M
YM
Shea
Frank G
FG
Witebsky
D003470:Culture Media; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000032:analysis; D016469:Fungemia / Q000209:etiology; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; D009181:Mycoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000145:classification / Q000379:methods
D003470:Culture Media; D004271:DNA, Fungal