Treatment with piperacillin-tazobactam and false-positive Aspergillus galactomannan antigen test results for patients with hematological malignancies.
We report the occurrence of a high rate of false-positive test results during the surveillance of hematology patients for galactomannan (GM) antigenemia. Among 218 patients surveyed from June 2002 through June 2003, 42 (19.3%) had > or =1 serum sample positive for GM (optical density index, >1.5). Of these patients, 38 had no additional evidence of invasive aspergillosis, and, therefore, their test results were considered to be false-positives. Case-control analysis showed that treatment with piperacillin-tazobactam was the only risk factor significantly associated with receiving false-positive test results. When tested for GM antigen, 3 of 4 piperacillin-tazobactam batches had positive results. Physicians should be aware of the possible interference of treatment with piperacillin-tazobactam when interpreting the results of the GM assay.
Pole Microbiologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut Gustave-Roussy, Villejuif, France.
Olivier
O
Adam
Anne
A
Aupérin
Fanny
F
Wilquin
Jean-Henri
JH
Bourhis
Bertrand
B
Gachot
Elisabeth
E
Chachaty
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000032:analysis; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D005690:Galactose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008351:Mannans / Q000032:analysis*; D008828:Microbiological Techniques; D008875:Middle Aged; D010397:Penicillanic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D010878:Piperacillin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000077725:Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D008351:Mannans; C012990:galactomannan; D000077725:Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; D010397:Penicillanic Acid; D010878:Piperacillin; D005690:Galactose