Invasive Aspergillosis (IA) is a life threatening condition, which affects immuno-compromised patients, such as those undergoing haematopoeitic stem cell transplantation. Difficult to Diagnose, IA is associated with high mortality. Rapid, reliable diagnostic tests for Aspergillus, when incorporated into patient care pathways, allow for the targeted use of antifungal therapy.
Invasive Aspergillosis is difficult to diagnose. Traditional techniques have poor clinical sensitivity and tend towards positivity late in disease. Delays in diagnosis by conventional techniques, such as culture and histology, have lead to the widespread use of prophylaxis and empiric treatment in the management of IA. Rapid, reliable diagnostics support physicians in the timely treatment of patients with appropriate therapy; reducing the use of anti-fungal drugs, without adversely affecting patient outcomes.¹²
- IA is hard to diagnose with non-specific symptoms and poor culture sensitivity
- Delayed diagnosis is associated with high mortality and morbidity
- The use of prophylaxis and emiric treatment is widespread
The inclusion of PCR in regular biomarker testing strategies for the diagnosis of Invasive Aspergillosis can:
- Reduce the time to diagnosis
- Reduce the use of empiric therapy
- Reduce the cost of care
1. Barnes RA et al. 2009 J. Clin. Pathol. 62: 64-60. doi: 10.1136/jcp.2008.058354
2. Morrissey CO et al. 2013 Lancet Infect. Dis. 13: 519-528. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(13)70076-8
