title: Can bacteraemia lead to false positive results in 1,3-beta-D-glucan test? Analysis of 83 bacteraemia episodes in high-risk patients for invasive fungal infections.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although bacteraemia has been reported to be related to false positive results in the 1,3-beta-D-glucan (BDG) test, the evidence for this interaction is limited.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the association between bacteraemia and the BDG test.
  
  
  METHODS
  Records of the Infection Control Committee were reviewed to identify bacteraemia in patients who were hospitalized in the haematology ward and stem cell transplantation unit. Patients who had undergone the BDG test at least once within 5 days of a positive blood culture were included in the study. BDG levels in the sera were assayed using the Fungitell kit (Associates of Cape Cod, East Falmouth, MA) according to the manufacturer's specifications. The cutoff for BDG positivity was 80 pg/mL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-three bacteraemic episodes were identified in 71 patients. BDG positivity was detected in 14 patients with bacteraemia, and only 1 patient with Escherichia coli bacteraemia had high BDG levels (over 80 pg/mL) despite having no evidence of invasive fungal infection (IFI).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that the cross-reactivity of the BDG test with a concomitant or recent bacteraemia is a very rare condition. Patients with risk factors for IFI should be evaluated cautiously when a positive BDG test is reported.
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey. gokhanmetan@gmail.com
authors: Gökhan
authors: G
authors: Metan
authors: Ayse Nedret
authors: AN
authors: Koc
authors: Çiğdem
authors: Ç
authors: Ağkuş
authors: Leyla Gül
authors: LG
authors: Kaynar
authors: Emine
authors: E
authors: Alp
authors: Bülent
authors: B
authors: Eser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D015415:Biomarkers; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D016469:Fungemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D006757:Hospital Units; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012306:Risk; D013045:Species Specificity; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D047071:beta-Glucans; C033363:beta-1,3-glucan