(1,3)-ß-D-glucan is able to predict therapeutic failure of patients with candidemia and not only mortality.

BACKGROUND: Candidemia is a major cause of bloodstream infection in tertiary hospitals worldwide and fungal biomarkers may provide early diagnosis. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the performance of (1-3)-ß-D-glucan (BDG) in the diagnosis of candidemia and its ability to predict therapeutic failure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective, multi-centre study conducted in 3 Brazilian hospitals. Clinical outcome was evaluated along 2 weeks of treatment, and therapeutic failure was defined as the occurrence of persistent candidemia, Candida deep-seated infection or death. Baseline BDG detection was performed with the Fungitell® assay (Associates of Cape Cod, Falmouth-USA). RESULTS: We enrolled a total of 71 patients with candidemia and a control group with 110 healthy volunteers. The sensitivity and specificity of BDG for diagnosing candidemia were as follows: 71.8% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 59.7% - 81.5%) and 98.2% (95% CI 92.9% - 99.7%), respectively. The only predictor of therapeutic failure was a higher BDG value at diagnosis of candidemia; a value > 226 pg/mL predicted failure with sensitivity and specificity of 75% and 78%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A high baseline serum BDG value was associated with therapeutic failure.

Fatal pulmonary sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis in Northeast Brazil.

BACKGROUND: A relevant case of pulmonary sporotrichosis due to Sporothrix brasiliensis is reported in a 50-year-old immunocompetent woman who had no history of skin trauma, but was in close contact with several stray cats at her nap time. The patient was hospitalized after 7 months of illness. The survey was conducted for pulmonary tuberculosis, an endemic disease in Brazil. She presented multiple central pulmonary nodules images, with central cavitation. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The patient bronchoalveolar lavage was cultured and Sporothrix sp. growth was obtained. Then, the isolate (LMMM1097) was accurately identified to the species level by using species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Molecular diagnosis revealed that the emerging species Sporothrix brasiliensis was the agent of primary pulmonary sporotrichosis and the patient was treated with Amphotericin B lipid complex, but presented severe clinical symptoms and the fatal outcome was observed at day 25 after hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our report adds important contributions to the clinical-epidemiological features of sporotrichosis, showing the geographic expansion of the agent within different regions of Brazil and a rare clinical manifestation (primary pulmonary sporotrichosis) caused by the emerging agent S. brasiliensis in an immunocompetent female patient.