Measuring (1,3)-β-D-glucan in tracheal aspirate, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and serum for detection of suspected Candida pneumonia in immunocompromised and critically ill patients: a prospective observational study

Table 1 Patients’ characteristics

	All	Non-CP/non- candidemia	Suspected CP	Non-CP/ candidemia	P
Number	31	18	9	4
Age, year	66.4 ± 16.6	65.3 ± 18.5	66.9 ± 16.5	70.3 ± 6.2	0.971^a
Sex, male (%)	20 (64.5)	11 (61.1)	6 (66.7)	3 (75.0)	0.860^b
APACHE II at ICU admission	22.4 ± 5.2	22.3 ± 5.2	21.1 ± 4.2	25.3 ± 6.9	0.583^a
APACHE II on enrolled day	24.2 ± 4.8	23.2 ± 5.0	25.1 ± 3.9	27.0 ± 5.3	0.316^a
Initial reasons for MV (%)
Post-surgery	7 (22.6%)	3 (16.7)	2 (22.2)	2 (50.0)	0.353^b
Pneumonia	24 (77.4%)	15 (83.3)	7 (77.8)	2 (50.0)	0.353^b
Reasons for BAL (%)
Non-responding pneumonia	18 (58.1)	9 (50.0)	7 (77.8)	2 (50)	0.363^b
Newly developed infiltration	13 (41.9)	9 (50.0)	2 (22.2)	2 (50)	0.363^b
Host factors (%)
Recent neutropenia	10 (32.3)	5 (27.8)	2 (22.2)	3 (75.0)	0.141^b
Prolonged steroid use	16 (51.6)	10 (55.6)	5 (55.6)	1 (25.0)	0.521^b
Immunosuppressants	5 (16.1)	3 (16.7)	2 (22.2)	0	0.600^b
MV days	24.2 ± 12.5	23.7 ± 14.9	22.9 ± 9.4	29.3 ± 5.7	0.129^a
ICU stay, days	27.8 ± 11.9	28.0 ± 14.4	26.6 ± 9.2	30.0 ± 4.3	0.494^a
ICU mortality (%)	14 (45.2)	6 (33.3)	5 (55.6)	3 (75.0)	0.241^b
Radiographic manifestations^c (%)
Halo sign	1 (3.2)	0	1 (11.1)	0	0.283^b
Single/multiple nodules	11 (35.5)	3 (16.7)	7 (77.8)	1 (25.0)	0.007^b
Cavitary lesion	6 (19.4)	3 (16.7)	3 (33.3)	0	0.338^b
GGO/infiltration	29 (93.5)	17 (94.4)	8 (88.9)	4 (100)	0.732^b
Mycological evidence of yeast (%)
TBLB^d,e	4 (12.9)	0	4 (44.5)	0	< 0.001^b
BAL^e	13 (41.9)	4 (22.2)	8 (88.9)	1 (25.0)	0.003^b
TA fungal culture	14 (45.2)	7 (38.9)	6 (66.7)	1 (25.0)	0.269^b
BAL fungal culture	13 (41.9)	5 (27.8)	8 (88.9)	0	0.002^b

Data are presented with means ± standard deviations
CP Candida pneumonia, APACHE acute physiology and chronic health evaluation, MV mechanical ventilation, BAL bronchoalveolar lavage, GGO ground glass opacity, TBLB transbronchial lung biopsy, TA endotracheal aspirate, BAL bronchoalveolar lavage fluid
^aKruskal-Wallis test
^bFisher’s exact test
^cEach single patient could have more than one type of radiographic manifestation
^dA total of 19 patients underwent TBLB, including 11 in non-CP/non-candidemia, 7 in suspected CP, and 1 in non-CP/candidemia
^eFungal staining was applied using Grocott-Gomori methenamine silver stain in BAL and Periodic Acid-Schiff stain in TBLB

ISSN: 1471-2334