Invasive fungal infections and approaches to their diagnosis

Publication date: Available online 9 July 2015 Source:Methods in Microbiology Author(s): Michael A. Pfaller Invasive fungal infections have become a major source of morbidity and mortality over the past three decades. The use of aggressive chemotherapy, organ transplantation, and the availability and widespread use of immunosuppressive treatments for many medical ailments has resulted in large populations at risk for fungal disease. Early diagnosis and prompt therapy are instrumental to successful treatment of these infections. Unfortunately, conventional methods for diagnosing fungal disease are slow and insensitive. Important advances in diagnosing invasive mycoses have been realised over the years, particularly in laboratory-based testing. Rapid culture-independent methods for detection of infection, and for identifying fungi in the laboratory, and reference guidelines for antifungal susceptibility testing have been developed and validated for use in the clinical laboratory. We will review these technological advances and our understanding of their clinical application and impacts.

Source: Methods in Microbiology - July 10, 2015 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research