BACKGROUND: Invasive aspergillosis is a challenge to the internist, and difficulties diagnosing the disease remain an everlasting problem. METHODS: We reviewed the data of 65 patients with hematological malignancies and aplastic anemia who were tested for the galactomannan (GM) antigen of Aspergillus between March and November 2003. RESULTS: GM antigen levels were false-positive in at least two consecutive samples in 5 out of 23 patients who did not have evidence of invasive aspergillosis (false positivity rate of 21.7%) but who received concomitant piperacillin/tazobactam (P/T) compared to 0 of 28 patients who did not. DISCUSSION: The use of P/T in febrile, neutropenic patients decreases the specificity of GM antigen testing, which may lead to incorrect and unnecessary attempts at diagnosis and therapy.
BACKGROUND:Invasive aspergillosis is a challenge to the internist, and difficulties diagnosing the disease remain an everlasting problem. METHODS: We reviewed the data of 65 patients with hematological malignancies and aplastic anemia who were tested for the galactomannan (GM) antigen of Aspergillus between March and November 2003. RESULTS:GM antigen levels were false-positive in at least two consecutive samples in 5 out of 23 patients who did not have evidence of invasive aspergillosis (false positivity rate of 21.7%) but who received concomitant piperacillin/tazobactam (P/T) compared to 0 of 28 patients who did not. DISCUSSION: The use of P/T in febrile, neutropenicpatients decreases the specificity of GM antigen testing, which may lead to incorrect and unnecessary attempts at diagnosis and therapy.
Authors: J-H Ko; K R Peck; W J Lee; J Y Lee; S Y Cho; Y E Ha; C-I Kang; D R Chung; C W Jung; E-S Kang; J-H Song Journal: Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis Date: 2015-04-17 Impact factor: 3.267
Authors: E Fréalle; K Decrucq; F Botterel; B Bouchindhomme; D Camus; E Dei-Cas; J M Costa; I Yakoub-Agha; S Bretagne; L Delhaes Journal: Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis Date: 2008-09-02 Impact factor: 3.267