Clinical features of candidemia and the diagnostic value of (1, 3) -β-D glucan / 中国感染与化疗杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To understand the etiology and clinical characteristics of candidemia, and the diagnostic value of(1, 3)-β-Dglucan. Methods This analysis included 31 patients with candidemia, 39 patients with Candida deep colonization, and 50 healthy subjects, who were enrolled from Wuyi Chinese Hospital Affiliated to Jinan University during the period from September 2015 to March 2018. Clinical data such as fungal culture, clinical features, and serum(1, 3)-β-D-glucan level were analyzed and compared between groups. Results Overall, 13 strains of Candida albicans and 18 strains of non-albicans Candida were isolated from the 31 patients with candidemia. The incidence of candidemia was associated with old age(>65 years), prior surgery(≤7 days), indwelling catheter(≥2 catheters and lasting ≥5 days), duration of mechanical ventilation(≥5 days)(P<0.05), but not associated with sex, underlying disease, prior use of anmicrobial and antifungal agents, immunosuppressant or glucocorticoid, or hypoproteinemia(P>0.05). Serum level of(1, 3)-β-D-glucan was significantly higher in candidemia patients than in the patients with candida deep colonization and healthy controls(P<0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of(1, 3)-β-D-glucan in diagnosing candidemia were 87.1％ and 96.0％, respectively. The level of(1, 3)-β-D-glucan was significantly higher in candidemia with bacterial infection than candidemia without bacterial infection(P<0.05). The level of of(1, 3)-β-D-glucan was also significantly higher in the candidemia caused by Candida albicans alone than that caused by non-albicans Candida alone(P<0.05). Conclusions Non-albicans Candida is more prevalent than Candida albicans in candidiasis, but Candida albicans is still the most important Candida species. The incidence of candidemia is asociated with advanced age(>65 years), prior surgery within 7 days, indwelling catheters(≥2 catheters and lasting ≥5 days), and mechanical ventilation(≥5 days). Serum(1, 3)-β-D-glucan level is valuable for early diagnosis of candidemia.