Evaluation of the Dynamiker Fungus (1-3)-β-D-Glucan Assay for the Diagnosis of Invasive Aspergillosis in High-Risk Patients with Hematologic Malignancies.

Introduction: The Dynamiker Fungus (1-3)-β-D-glucan assay (DFA) allows the testing of samples in smaller batches compared to the well-established Fungitell assay (FA) making the assay cost-effective in centers with small numbers of samples. Evaluations of its performance for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis (IA) are limited. Therefore, we compared the two assays and evaluated their clinical performance in diagnosing IA.

Performance, Correlation and Kinetic Profile of Circulating Serum Fungal Biomarkers of Invasive Aspergillosis in High-Risk Patients with Hematologic Malignancies.

As conventional microbiological documentation of invasive aspergillosis (IA) is difficult to obtain, serum fungal biomarkers are important adjunctive diagnostic tools. Positivity rates and the kinetic profiles of galactomannan (GM), 1,3-β-D-glucan (BDG) and DNA (PCR) were studied in high-risk patients with hematologic malignancies. GM, BDG and PCR data from serial serum specimens ( = 240) from 93 adult hematology patients with probable ( = 8), possible ( = 25) and no ( = 60) IA were retrospectively analyzed.

A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Surveillance Study of Invasive Aspergillosis in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies in Greece: Impact of the Revised EORTC/MSGERC 2020 Criteria.

Data concerning the incidence of invasive aspergillosis (IA) in high-risk patients in Greece are scarce, while the impact of the revised 2020 EORTC/MSGERC consensus criteria definitions on the reported incidence rate of IA remains unknown. A total of 93 adult hematology patients were screened for IA for six months in four tertiary care Greek hospitals. Serial serum specimens ( = 240) the sample was considered negative by PCR were collected twice-weekly and tested for galactomannan (GM) and DNA (PCR) detection.

Impact of a non-compulsory antifungal stewardship program on overuse and misuse of antifungal agents in a tertiary care hospital.

Objectives: To assess the impact of an antifungal stewardship (AFS) program on appropriate use, consumption and acquisition costs of antifungals, and on clinical outcomes (in-hospital-mortality, in-hospital-length-of-stay).

Methods: The study was conducted at a 535-bed tertiary-care hospital and had three consecutive periods. A) Observational period (10 months): all antifungal prescriptions were prospectively evaluated.