Peptide nucleic acid fluorescence in situ hybridization-based identification of Candida albicans and its impact on mortality and antifungal therapy costs

G N Forrest; K Mankes; M A Jabra-Rizk; E Weekes; J K Johnson; D P Lincalis; R A Venezia

doi:10.1128/JCM.00751-06

Peptide nucleic acid fluorescence in situ hybridization-based identification of Candida albicans and its impact on mortality and antifungal therapy costs

J Clin Microbiol. 2006 Sep;44(9):3381-3. doi: 10.1128/JCM.00751-06.

Authors

G N Forrest¹, K Mankes, M A Jabra-Rizk, E Weekes, J K Johnson, D P Lincalis, R A Venezia

Affiliation

¹ Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 20 Penn St., Rm. S403B, Baltimore, 21201, USA. gforrest@medicine.umaryland.edu

Abstract

The impact of rapid identification of Candida albicans blood isolates by peptide nucleic acid fluorescence in situ hybridization (PNA FISH) on the selection and expenditure of antifungal therapy was evaluated. PNA FISH was 100% sensitive and specific in the rapid identification of 31 out of 72 candidemias as C. albicans and resulted in a significant reduction of caspofungin usage, with an overall cost savings of 1,729 US dollars per patient.

Publication types

Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

Antifungal Agents / economics*
Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
Candida albicans / classification*
Candida albicans / drug effects
Candida albicans / genetics
Candidiasis / drug therapy
Candidiasis / microbiology
Candidiasis / mortality
Caspofungin
Echinocandins
Fungemia / drug therapy
Fungemia / microbiology
Fungemia / mortality*
Humans
In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / methods*
Lipopeptides
Mycological Typing Techniques
Peptide Nucleic Acids / genetics*
Peptides, Cyclic / economics*
Peptides, Cyclic / pharmacology
Peptides, Cyclic / therapeutic use
Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

Antifungal Agents
Echinocandins
Lipopeptides
Peptide Nucleic Acids
Peptides, Cyclic
Caspofungin