Fungal sepsis is one of the major problems in neonatal and pediatric care unit settings. The availability of new diagnostic techniques could allow medical practitioners to rapidly identify septic patients and to improve their outcome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the 1→3-β-d-glucan (BDG), individually and in comparison with the Candida mannan (CM) antigen, in ten preterm infants and five onco-haematological pediatric patients with Candida bloodstream infections already proven by positive culture. The serum levels of BDG were >80 pg/mL on the same day as a positive blood culture in all examined patients, while CM antigen was negative in the patients with C. parapsilosis fungemia and in one further case due to C. albicans. These results suggest that a regular monitoring of serum circulating antigens (i.e., 1→3-β-d-glucan) combined with other microbiological and clinical information, may allow earlier and accurate diagnosis. However, further studies are necessary to confirm its usefulness in routine clinical practice.
Keywords: 1→3-β-d-glucan; candidemia; mannan antigen; pediatric patients.