Abstract: Objective To investigate the clinical significance to diagnose and monitor invasive candidiasis (IC) using 1,3-beta-D-glucan (BG) and anti-Candida albicans germ tube antibody (CAGTA). Methods The clinical specimens were collected from 26 patients infected IC and 100 patients colonized Candida.BG and CAGTA were detected and monitored dynamically. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the detection of BG or CAGTA and the combination detection of BG and CAGTA were analyzed. The relationship between the 2 markers and antifungal therapy was analyzed. Results The sensitivities, specificities, positive and negative predictive values of BG and CAGTA detections were 61.5%,90.0%,61.5%,90.0% and 57.7%,83.0%,46.9%,88.3%, respectively. As the combination detection of BG and CAGTA was performed, the specificity and positive predictive value, each up to 100.0%, were significantly higher than those of individual detections. The BG and CAGTA values in the effective group receiving antifungal therapy showed a gradual decline.The BG and CAGTA values varied with a upward trend in the ineffective group. Conclusions The combination detection of BG and CAGTA can improve specificity and positive predictive value for the diagnosis of IC, and it is very useful for the early diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of IC.

Key words: Anti-Candida albicans germ tube antibody, 1,3-beta-D-glucan, Invasive candidiasis