Table 3.
Diagnostic procedures and yields for fungal infections.
| Procedures | Total Number | Culture + Fungus1 | Staining + Fungus2 | Culture and staining + Fungus3 | Diagnostic yield for fungal infection in %4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronchoscopy | |||||
| Number of patients (pts) | 39 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 12.8 |
| Number of bronchoscopies | 46 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 10.9 |
| All biopsy (bx) | |||||
| Number of pts | 28 | 8 | 11 | 4 | 53.6 |
| Number of bx | 38 | 8 | 14 | 4 | 47.4 |
| All lung bx5 | |||||
| Number of pts | 20 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 35.0 |
| Number of bx | 25 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 36.0 |
| Transthoracic FNA | |||||
| Number of pts | 17 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 29.4 |
| Number of bx | 18 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 27.8 |
| VATS | |||||
| Number of pts = no. of bx | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Open lung bx | |||||
| Number of pts = number of bx | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 100 |
| Sinus bx | |||||
| Number of pts | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 83.3 |
| Number of bx | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 71.4 |
| Liver bx | |||||
| Number of pts | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 75 |
| Number of bx | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 66.7 |
| Brain bx | |||||
| Number of pts = no. of bx | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Blood culture | |||||
| Number of pts | 100 | 4 | – | – | 4.0 |
| Autopsy | |||||
| Number of pts | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 100 |
Cultures of BAL/biopsy/autopsy specimens or blood that yielded the growth of a fungal species. Isolation of Candida species from BAL or non-sterile body sites was excluded.
Cytopathological or histopathological staining of BAL/biopsy/autopsy specimens that demonstrated the presence of hyphal elements consistent with a fungus. Yeast-like organisms from BAL or non-sterile body sites were excluded.
Both cultures and cytopathological/histopathological examination of the specimens were positive for the presence of a fungus. Findings of Candida species or yeast-like organisms from BAL or non-sterile body sites were excluded.
Diagnostic yield for fungal infection per total number of patients or per total number of procedures. Samples positive for P. jiroveci, or other non-fungal organisms (such as viral or bacterial pathogens) are excluded from the analysis.
Including transthoracic fine needle aspiration (FNA), video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and open lung biopsies. Transbronchial biopsies are excluded. Some patients underwent more than one type of lung biopsies.