Fungal Detection Methods
Overall, in 17 children (50%) multiple fungal species were detected. In
twelve cases (35%) identification of fungal pathogens relied solely on
histopathology and fungal cultures. Panfungal PCR, which was first
introduced in our institution in 2011, was utilized in the remaining 22
patients (65%). PCR detected fungal pathogens in four patients with
negative cultures, and additional fungal species in four patients with
positive cultures (18% of patients tested by PCR). Overall, the use of
panfungal PCR resulted in a change in antifungal therapy in 8 patients
(36% of patients tested by PCR).
The most common fungus identified was Aspergillus in 20 patients
(59%). Fifteen fungal pathogens of the order Mucorales were detected in
12 patients (35%), including Mucor (n=6), Rhizopus (n=7)
and Absidia (n=2). Other pathogens included Alternaria(n=6), Exserohilum (n=6), Curvularia (n=3),Fusarium (n=3) and Candida (n=2).