This study evaluates the diagnostic value of non-conventional microbiological methods for early detection of candidemia and invasive candidiasis in adult hospitalized patients with suspected invasive fungal infection. Conventional blood culture remains the gold standard for diagnosis but has limited sensitivity and may delay initiation of targeted antifungal therapy.
The study investigates whether the combined use of serum biomarkers (1,3)-β-D-glucan, mannan and anti-mannan antibodies, and molecular detection of Candida DNA by PCR improves the diagnostic performance compared with conventional culture-based methods.
In addition, the study explores the host cytokine response associated with different Candida species and other fungal pathogens. The goal is to support the development of an optimized diagnostic algorithm for invasive fungal disease and improve clinical management of critically ill patients.