title: Experience with the Platelia Candida ELISA for the diagnosis of invasive candidosis in neonatal patients.
abstract: This preliminary study evaluated the use of the Platelia Candida antigen kit for the diagnosis of invasive candidosis in 70 of 184 pre-term infants admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit between March 2004 and March 2006. The frequency of confirmed candidaemia was 6.5%. The sensitivity and specificity of the assay were 94.4% and 94.2%, respectively, with a positive predictive value of 85% and a negative predictive value of 98%. These results suggest that the inclusion of regular serological surveillance for mannanaemia in some pre-term infants would complement blood cultures for the early detection of candidosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiological Science, University of Catania Laboratory Analysis Unit, Catania, Italy. oliveri@unict.it
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oliveri
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Trovato
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Betta
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
mesh_terms: D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000097:blood; D001724:Birth Weight; D002175:Candida / Q000276:immunology; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D016469:Fungemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008351:Mannans / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D008351:Mannans; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic