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Medical Lab Notes Introduction β-D-Glucan (BDG) is a polysaccharide component of the fungal cell wall, widely present in species such as Candida, Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Pneumocystis jirovecii. Since it is released into the bloodstream during invasive fungal infections (IFIs), detection of BDG has become a valuable non-culture-based diagnostic …
Introduction Blastomyces dermatitidis is a dimorphic fungus responsible for blastomycosis, a potentially life-threatening systemic mycosis. It is often found in soil enriched with decaying organic matter, especially near rivers and lakes. Traditional diagnosis relies on culture, microscopy, or histopathology, which may take several weeks. To …
Introduction A throat swab Gram stain is a rapid, initial diagnostic test performed on specimens collected from the oropharynx or tonsillar region. It helps to identify bacterial flora, pathogens, and inflammatory response. While culture and molecular methods provide definitive diagnosis, Gram staining offers early guidance …
Introduction Unlike molds, yeasts are the most commonly recovered fungi in blood cultures. Candidemia is among the leading causes of bloodstream infections in immunocompromised and critically ill patients. Yeasts such as Candida, Cryptococcus, and Trichosporon are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. Blood culture positivity …
Introduction Blood cultures are the cornerstone for diagnosing fungemia, but while yeasts (Candida spp.) are frequently detected, molds are rarely recovered in blood culture systems. This is because most molds (Aspergillus, Mucorales) cause tissue-invasive disease without sustained fungemia. However, certain molds such as Fusarium spp. …
Introduction Yeasts, especially Candida and Cryptococcus species, are frequent causes of opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. Determining their antifungal susceptibility is crucial for guiding effective therapy. While broth microdilution methods (CLSI/EUCAST) serve as reference standards, they are labor-intensive and time-consuming. Colorimetric antifungal susceptibility testing systems …
Introduction of Yeast Identification by Chromogenic Media (HiMedia) Opportunistic yeasts, especially Candida species, are frequent causes of infections ranging from superficial candidiasis to life-threatening systemic disease. Conventional identification based on culture and biochemical tests can be time-consuming and may not reliably distinguish closely related species. …
Introduction Accurate identification of fungi is critical for clinical, environmental, and epidemiological purposes. Traditional culture and morphology-based methods are time-consuming and may misidentify cryptic or closely related species. PCR amplification followed by Sanger sequencing of conserved genetic loci (e.g., ITS, 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, β-tubulin, …