The Journal of infection
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The Journal of infection · Jan 2016
ReviewUtility of immune response-derived biomarkers in the differential diagnosis of inflammatory disorders.
Differentiating between inflammatory disorders is difficult, but important for a rational use of antimicrobial agents. Biomarkers reflecting the host immune response may offer an attractive strategy to predict the etiology of an inflammatory process and can thus be of help in decision making. We performed a review of the literature to evaluate the diagnostic value of inflammatory biomarkers in adult patients admitted to the hospital with suspected systemic acute infections. ⋯ In undifferentiated illnesses, increased CD35 expression on neutrophils distinguishes bacterial from viral infections. Compared to bacterial infections, invasive fungal infections are characterized by low concentrations of PCT. No biomarker predicting a specific infecting agent could be identified.
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The Journal of infection · Jan 2016
Impact of antifungal prescription on relative distribution and susceptibility of Candida spp. - Trends over 10 years.
The incidence of Candida spp. infections is worrisome, particularly in critically ill patients. Previous reports suggested that increasing use of antifungal therapy might affect resistance profiles of invasive strains. The study objective was to describe the distribution resistance profile of Candida spp. strains, and to correlate it with antifungal consumptions within one ICU. ⋯ Previous history of antifungal prescription within an ICU influences Candida species distribution and susceptibility profile to antifungal agents. The significant selective pressure exerted by caspofungin and amphotericin B on C. glabrata is a concern.