New Tools in Laboratory Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Infections

Abstract

AbstractThere are millions of fungi on planet earth; fortunately only a few dozen are responsible for most human infections. Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) have become increasingly important with the emergence of diseases and immunosuppressive treatments. On the other hand, in recent years, we have witnessed the emergence of new pathogenic species, as well as significant changes in the epidemiology of systemic mycoses, possibly related to climate change. Diagnosis of IFIs is challenging. Most clinical laboratories have basic tests, which delay diagnosis; a few other laboratories have molecular and/or point-of-care tests, which are approved for clinical laboratory use and have revolutionized the diagnosis of IFIs. However, all these tests allow the diagnosis of specific diseases, so there must be a high clinical suspicion of the organism causing the infection. On the other hand, only a few laboratories have tools such as next-generation sequencing, which have allowed a breakthrough in the investigation and diagnosis of fungal infections. It is hoped that soon these technologies will be available in a greater number of laboratories and that their impact on the diagnosis and treatment of patients will be greater.KeywordsDiagnosisMolecular toolsInvasive fungal infections