Aspergillus meningitis: Diagnosis by non-culture-based microbiological methods and management

The performance of antibody detection, antigen detection, and Aspergillus g enus-specific PCR fur diagnosing Aspergillus meningitis was investigated wi th 26 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples obtained from a single patient with proven infection caused by Aspergillus fumigatus. Immunoglobulin G antibod ies directed against Aspergillus were not detected by enzyme-linked immunos orbent assay in CSF or serum. The antigen galactomannan was detected in the CSF 45 days before a culture became positive, and Aspergillus DNA was dete cted 4 days prior to culture, Decline of the galactomannan antigen titer in the CSF during treatment with intravenous and intraventricular amphoterici n B and intravenous voriconazole corresponded with the clinical response to treatment.