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Schelenz, Silke and Micallef, Christianne 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4513-8199
and
English Surveillance Programme for Antimicrobial Utilisation and Resistance (ESPAUR)
(2019)
National mycology laboratory diagnostic capacity for invasive fungal diseases in 2017: Evidence of sub-optimal practice.
Journal of Infection, 79 (2).
pp. 167-173.
ISSN 0163-4453
Abstract
A survey of laboratory testing capabilities for systemic fungal pathogens was undertaken in the UK, to identify where improved compliance with published standards and guidelines is required and to inform antifungal stewardship (AFS). The survey captured information from laboratories in the UK on diagnostic capacity for invasive fungal diseases (IFD), including identification, serology, molecular diagnostics and susceptibility testing. The survey was circulated in March 2017 through key networks. Of 154 laboratories providing diagnostic mycology services in the UK, 80 (52%) responded to the survey. Results indicated that 85% of respondents identified fungal isolates from high risk patients to species level, and that many laboratories (78%) could access local susceptibility testing for yeasts, whereas 17% could for Aspergillus species. However, direct microscopy was only used in 49% as a first line investigation on samples where it would be appropriate. A low number of respondents identified yeasts cultured from intravascular line tips to species level (63%) and even fewer fully identified urine isolates from critically ill patients (42%) or the immunocompromised (39%). Less than half of respondents advised therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for flucytosine. Few laboratories had access to local β-glucan (4%) or galactomannan (20%) testing. The survey highlights that the current level of fungal diagnostics in the UK is below accepted best practice with an urgent need to improve across many diagnostic areas including the timely accessibility of fungal biomarkers, susceptibility testing and provision of TDM testing. Improvements are important to facilitate the delivery of diagnostic driven AFS strategies as well as appropriate management of IFD.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Funding Information: We are grateful to ESPAUR, UKCMN, RCPath, BSMM who helped to promote and distributed the survey. We would like to thank hospital and laboratory staff who took the time to respond to the questionnaire and James Vaudrey for his assistance in creating the Survey. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. SS has consulted for Pfizer, Gilead and Astellas. DAE has received funding to attend conferences from MSD, Gilead and Astellas, and has consulted for Astellas and Pfizer. RJM has been a principle investigator for an Astellas funded clinical trial, and has received honoraria for lectures from MSD. CM received travel grants to attend conferences from Astellas, Gilead, Pfizer and Novartis, educational grants from Pfizer and Novartis, attended a Pfizer Advisory Board Meeting and consulted for Astellas. MDR has consulted for Gilead Sciences, Pfizer and MSD. RR has consulted for Astellas, Gilead Sciences, Pfizer and MSD and is involved with a Scynexis Inc. clinical trial. All remaining authors have no competing interests to declare Funding Information: SS has consulted for Pfizer, Gilead and Astellas. DAE has received funding to attend conferences from MSD, Gilead and Astellas, and has consulted for Astellas and Pfizer. RJM has been a principle investigator for an Astellas funded clinical trial, and has received honoraria for lectures from MSD. CM received travel grants to attend conferences from Astellas, Gilead, Pfizer and Novartis, educational grants from Pfizer and Novartis, attended a Pfizer Advisory Board Meeting and consulted for Astellas. MDR has consulted for Gilead Sciences, Pfizer and MSD. RR has consulted for Astellas, Gilead Sciences, Pfizer and MSD and is involved with a Scynexis Inc. clinical trial. Publisher Copyright: © 2019 The British Infection Association |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | audit,british society for medical mycology,diagnostic capacity,invasive fungal infections,standards of care,uk clinical mycology network,microbiology (medical),infectious diseases,sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700/2726 |
| Faculty \ School: | Faculty of Science > School of Pharmacy |
| Related URLs: | |
| Depositing User: | LivePure Connector |
| Date Deposited: | 18 Aug 2022 08:30 |
| Last Modified: | 03 Nov 2022 16:36 |
| URI: | https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/87405 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.jinf.2019.06.009 |
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