title: Evaluation of the (1,3)-β-D-glucan assay for the diagnosis of neonatal invasive yeast infections.
abstract: Most newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are premature and at risk of invasive fungal infections (IFIs). Invasive yeast infections (IYIs) are the most common fungal infections in this population. These infections are difficult to diagnose because symptoms are nonspecific, and the sensitivity of blood cultures is low. The serum (1,3)-β-D-glucan (BDG) assay provides a reliable marker for the diagnosis of IFIs in adults with haematological malignancies. We assessed the diagnostic performance of this test in neonatal IYIs and its contribution to the monitoring of antifungal treatment. A retrospective study was performed in the NICU of the French University Hospital of Amiens from February 2012 to February 2014. Forty-seven neonates (33 males, 14 females) with a median gestational age of 30 weeks (IQR: 27-31) and median birth weight of 1200 g (IQR: 968-1700) were included and divided into three groups: 21 control neonates (CTRL), 20 neonates with probable IYI (PB), and six with proven IYI (PV). Median BDG levels were significantly higher in the global IYI group (PB + PV): 149 pg/ml (IQR: 85-364) vs. CTRL group: 39 pg/ml (IQR: 20-94) (P < .001). The optimal cut-off was 106 pg/ml (sensitivity 61.5%; specificity 81%). BDG levels decreased with antifungal treatment. BDG was detectable in cerebrospinal fluid, but the interest of this for diagnostic purposes remains unclear. Our results suggest that the BDG assay may be useful for the early identification of IYIs in neonates and for monitoring antifungal therapy efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Université de Lille, U995- LIRIC - Lille Inflammation Research International Centre, F-59000 Lille, France.|INSERM, U995, Fungal-Associated Invasive & Inflammatory Diseases, F-59000 Lille, France.|CHU Lille, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, F-59000 Lille, France.
authors.forename: Marjorie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cornu
authors.affiliation: CHU Amiens, Service de Néonatologie, Amiens, France.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goudjil
authors.affiliation: CHU Amiens, Service de Néonatologie, Amiens, France.
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kongolo
authors.affiliation: CHU Amiens, Service de Néonatologie, Amiens, France.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leke
authors.affiliation: Université de Lille, U995- LIRIC - Lille Inflammation Research International Centre, F-59000 Lille, France.|INSERM, U995, Fungal-Associated Invasive & Inflammatory Diseases, F-59000 Lille, France.|CHU Lille, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, F-59000 Lille, France.|CHU Amiens, Laboratoire de Parasitologie Mycologie, CHU, France.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Poulain
authors.affiliation: CHU Lille, Délégation à la Recherche Clinique et à l'Innovation, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Taieb
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chouaki
authors.affiliation: Université de Lille, U995- LIRIC - Lille Inflammation Research International Centre, F-59000 Lille, France.|INSERM, U995, Fungal-Associated Invasive & Inflammatory Diseases, F-59000 Lille, France.|CHU Lille, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, F-59000 Lille, France.
authors.forename: Boualem
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sendid
mesh_terms: D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000379:methods*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D000072742:Invasive Fungal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D011509:Proteoglycans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D011509:Proteoglycans; D047071:beta-Glucans; C010770:polysaccharide-K
keywords: (1,3)-β-D-glucan; Candida; Malassezia; neonatal intensive care unit; neonatal yeast infections