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HIV-associated opportunistic fungal infections: a guide to using the clinical microbiology laboratory


N Govender

Abstract



This review aims to provide a guide for clinicians to using the clinical microbiology laboratory for management of common HIV-associated opportunistic fungal infections, e.g. mucosal candidiasis, cryptococcosis, Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP), histoplasmosis, etc. Laboratory tests provide valuable guidance at various stages of management of HIV-infected patients with fungal infections: (i ) establishing a diagnosis, (ii) guiding appropriate antifungal therapy in selected circumstances, (iii) providing laboratory prognostic markers, (iv) monitoring response to therapy; and (v ) detecting relapses.
However, the laboratory is not always able to provide reliable answers to clinically relevant questions, and these limitations must be considered in the interpretation of test results.

Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine Vol. 8 (3) 2007: pp. 18-23

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eISSN: 2078-6751
print ISSN: 1608-9693