Usefulness of direct fluorescent in buffy coat in the diagnosis of Candida sepsis in neonates.
The objective of this study is to assess the clinical utility of direct fluorescent assay in buffy coat in the diagnosis of Candida sepsis (CS) in neonates.



A cross-sectional study was conducted in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and 22 neonates with suspected CS were enrolled. Fungus isolation from blood cultures and direct fluorescent tests in buffy coat were performed and validity parameters were estimated.



Candida was isolated in 13/22 (59%) blood cultures. The direct fluorescent test was positive in 12/13 and 1/9 cases with positive and negative blood culture as corresponding. Estimated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likehood ratio and negative likehood ratio were 92%, 89%, 92%, 89%, 8.31 and 0.09, respectively.



The direct fluorescent assay in buffy coat might be useful to support early and accurate diagnosis of CS in neonates.
Jefatura de Servicios de Prestaciones Médicas, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Colima, Colima, México.
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MA
Higareda-Almaraz
Departamento de Pediatría, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad, Centro Médico Nacional de Occidente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.
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H
Loza-Barajas
Departamento de Pediatría, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad, Centro Médico Nacional de Occidente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.
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JG
Maldonado-González
Jefatura de Servicios de Prestaciones Médicas, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Colima, Colima, México.
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E
Higareda-Almaraz
Jefatura de Servicios de Prestaciones Médicas, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Tepic, Nayarit, México.
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V
Benítez-Godínez
Unidad de Medicina Familiar No. 19, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Colima, Colima, México.
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E
Murillo-Zamora
D058621:Blood Buffy Coat / Q000382:microbiology*; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D058387:Candidemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016533:Mycological Typing Techniques; D000071074:Neonatal Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests