Laboratory diagnostic possibilities in fungus infections in intensive care patients

: Severe yeast infections of intensive care patients are promoted by numerous predisposing factors among which antibacterial broad spectrum therapy plays an important role. Since typical clinical pictures are lacking, basic procedures of mycological diagnostics are culture and differentiation of yeast strains and detection of immunological reactions against yeast antigens as well. Among 200 intensive-care patients with suspected systemic mycosis, Candida albicans was the prevailing yeast, followed by Torulopsis glabrata and Candida krusei. In the immunocompetent patient, serological procedures discriminating between antibodies of the IgG and IgM class may be suitable for the surveillance of the course of the disease. - In early stages of endomycotic infections and in the immunocompromised host as well, detection of candida antigens by means of specific latex tests and the detection of yeast-specific metabolites (e.g. arabinitol) by gas chromatographic methods provide helpful tools in the diagnosis of severe opportunistic fungal infections.