(1, 3)-beta-D-Glucan in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid: a useful biomarker in diagnosis of invasive pulmonary infection caused by Hormographiella aspergillata?

Diagn Pathol. 2024 Dec 28;19(1):168. doi: 10.1186/s13000-024-01589-9.

Abstract

Hormographiella aspergillata is a rare hyaline mold causing invasive fungal infection in humans, until the frequent use of antifungal prophylaxis in immunocompromised hosts. Due to the high mortality of H. aspergillata infection, early recognition and treatment are crucial. Previous case reports suggested that serum (1,3)-beta-D-Glucan (BG) is one of the diagnostic aids for H. aspergillata infection. Here we report for the first time a case of pulmonary H. aspergillata infection with a negative serum BG but positive bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) BG. This may suggest that BAL BG is a useful and additional microbiological marker for prompt identification of this fatal invasive fungal infection (IFI). But it should be interpreted together with the clinical presentation, imaging, and other laboratory results.

Keywords: Hormographiella aspergillata; (1,3)-beta-D-Glucan; Amphotericin B; Invasive fungal infection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biomarkers* / analysis
  • Biomarkers* / blood
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid* / chemistry
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid* / microbiology
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Invasive Fungal Infections / diagnosis
  • Invasive Fungal Infections / microbiology
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / diagnosis
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / microbiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Proteoglycans
  • beta-Glucans* / analysis
  • beta-Glucans* / blood

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • beta-Glucans
  • polysaccharide-K
  • Proteoglycans
  • Antifungal Agents