| Abstrakt: |
Background: 1,3 β-D-Glucan is an important marker for diagnosis of invasive fungal infection (IFI). Its value in comparison to blood culture is not yet established in neonates. Aim: primary aim is to study the value of 1,3 β-D-Glucan in comparison with culture on Sabouraud dextrose agar in diagnosis of IFI, Secondary aim is to study the prevalence of IFI in preterm neonates. Subjects and Methods: a prospective observational study carried on 75 non-exclusively breast fed preterm neonates <34 weeks gestational age. Tollner and Rodwell sepsis scores, SNAPII and blood culture were done to all neonates initially and on day 10&17 of life. 1,3 β-D-Glucan was done for all neonates on day 10 of life. Results: fungal growth was found in 9.3% of included preterm neonates.1,3β-D-Glucan was higher in culture proven fungal sepsis compared to culture proven bacterial sepsis and culture negative preterm neonates (83.28626.22 pg\μl, 51.42616.71 pg\μl, 43.07612.87 pg\μl respectively). 1,3 β-D-Glucan was related to Tollner (r=0.286,p=0.013), Rodwell (r=0.317,p=0.006) sepsis scores and to SNAPII score (r=0.331,p=0.04). Its cut off point for diagnosis of IFI is 79pg\μl with sensitivity of 71% and specificity of 98%. Conclusion: 1,3β-D-Glucan is an easy, rapid and specific marker for diagnosis of IFI in neonates. Further studies are needed to evaluate it as a therapeutic monitoring for IFI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
