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Diagnosing Invasive Mold Infections: What Is Next

  • Current Management of Fungal Infections (J Maertens, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Currently, microbiological diagnosis of invasive mold infections is based largely on culture, direct microscopy, PCR, or antigen (such as β-D-glucan or galactomannan)-based tests. In this review, we look at novel and experimental diagnostic tests for invasive mold infections.

Recent Findings

Several new techniques have been proposed, and are in different stages of development. The JF5-antibody-based lateral flow device has recently been commercialized, and is closest to uptake in routine care. Other tests, such as the MAb476-antibody-based urine lateral flow device, gliotoxin or bis(methylthio)gliotoxin, mold-specific T cells, exhaled breath analysis, siderophores, mass spectrometry serum disaccharide, or cytokine analysis, are at an earlier stage of development.

Summary

Most proposed diagnostic tests for invasive mold infections are in the experimental stage and are not ready for routine clinical use. They still require further characterization and analytical and clinical validation by independent research groups.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Toine Mercier & Johan Maertens

  2. Department of Hematology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Toine Mercier, Ellen Guldentops & Johan Maertens

  3. Pharmacy Department, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Ruth Van Daele

  4. Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Ruth Van Daele

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  1. Toine Mercier
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  2. Ellen Guldentops
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Correspondence to Toine Mercier.

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Conflict of Interest

Toine Mercier has received lecture honoraria from Gilead and travel support from MSD and Gilead.

Johan Maertens has received research grants, travel support, and lecture honoraria from Gilead, MSD, Basilea Pharmaceuticals, Astellas, and Pfizer and has participated in advisory boards for MSD, Gilead, Astellas, Basilea, Pfizer, F2G, Amplyx, Scynexis, and Cidara.

Ellen Guldentops and Ruth Van Daele declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Current Management of Fungal Infections

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Mercier, T., Guldentops, E., Van Daele, R. et al. Diagnosing Invasive Mold Infections: What Is Next. Curr Fungal Infect Rep 12, 161–169 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12281-018-0322-0

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