Cited by 496Antifungal resistance and susceptibilityNeutropenia and Cancer InfectionsFungal Infections and Studies

Galactomannan in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid

Meersseman, Wouter, Lagrou, Katrien, Maertens, Johan, Wilmer, Alexander, Hermans, Greet, Vanderschueren, Steven, Spriet, Isabel, Verbeken, Eric +1 more·2008·American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

Abstract

RATIONALE: Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is an important cause of mortality in patients with hematologic malignancies. However, IA appears to be gaining a foothold in the intensive care unit (ICU) in patients without classical risk factors. A recent study described 89 cases of IA in patients in a medical ICU without leukemia or cancer. The diagnosis of IA remains difficult and is often established too late. Galactomannan (GM) is an exo-antigen released from Aspergillus hyphae while they invade host tissue. OBJECTIVES: This prospective single-center study was conducted to investigate the role of GM in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid as a tool for early diagnosis of IA in the ICU. METHODS: All patients with risk factors identified in our earlier study were evaluated. BAL for culture and GM detection, serum GM levels, and computed tomography scan were obtained for all included patients with signs of pneumonia. Patients were classified as having proven, probable, or possible IA. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 110 patients out of 1,109 admissions were eligible. There were 26 proven IA cases. Using a cutoff index of 0.5, the sensitivity and specificity of GM detection in BAL fluid was 88 and 87%, respectively. The sensitivity of serum GM was only 42%. In 11 of 26 proven cases, BAL culture and serum GM remained negative, whereas GM in BAL was positive. CONCLUSIONS: IA is common in immunocompromised, critically ill patients. GM detection in BAL fluid seems to be useful in establishing or excluding the diagnosis of IA in the ICU.

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Crossref · 10.1164/rccm.200704-606oc

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  • Detection of galactomannan from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid has been shown to be a useful and rapid tool for identification of invasive aspergillosis in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients.

    “Detection of galactomannan (a polysaccharide antigen found primarily in the cells walls of Aspergillus species) from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), has been shown to be a useful and rapid tool for identification of IA in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients.58, 59, 60, 61”

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Authors
Meersseman, W., Lagrou, K., Maertens, J., Wilmer, A., Hermans, G., Vanderschueren, S., Spriet, I., Verbeken, E., & Van Wijngaerden, E.
Affiliations
  • Universitair Ziekenhuis Leuven (BE)
  • Department of Medical Diagnostic Sciences
  • Department of Hematology
  • Medical Intensive Care Unit and Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of General Internal Medicine
  • Department of Pharmacy; and
Venue
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
Published
2008-01-01
Volume
177
Issue
1
Pages
27-34
ISSN
  • 1073-449X (ISSN-L)
  • 1535-4970
OpenAlex
W2039267791
Cited by
496
References
26
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 35 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 27 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 27 · 2013: 30 · 2012: 34
FWCI
23.66
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Antifungal resistance and susceptibility
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Neutropenia and Cancer Infections
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Fungal Infections and Studies
Keywords
invasive aspergillosis, galactomannan, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, Aspergillus, early diagnosis, intensive care unit, critically ill patients, serum galactomannan, sensitivity and specificity, pneumonia, immunocompromised patients
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Aspergillosis, Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid, Bronchoscopy, Cause of Death, Cross Infection, Diagnosis, Differential, Female, Galactose, Humans, Intensive Care Units, Lung, Lung Diseases, Fungal, Male, Mannans, Middle Aged, Opportunistic Infections, Predictive Value of Tests, Prospective Studies, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Survival Rate, Mycological Typing Techniques, Hospital Mortality, Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated

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