1-3 beta - d - glucan assay is done for which infection?
(A) Invasive candidiasis (B) Cryptococcus (C) Penicillium (D) Rhinicerebral mucormycosis
(A) Beta-d- glucan is an attractive antigen in that it is found in a broad range of fungal agents, including the commonly encountered agents Candida spp., Aspergillus spp., Pneumocystis jirovecii. Cryptococcus- capsular antigen detection from CSF or serum by latex agglutination test is a rapid and sensitive test. Pneumocystis carinii- no serological test available Mucormycosis- Can be diagnosed by KOH mount showing , non-septated hyphae branching at obtuse angle