Simultaneous increase in 1,3-β-d-glucan and procalcitonin levels in Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection

We read with interest the study by de Boer and colleagues in this Journal who examined the diagnostic potential of β-d-Glucan.1 1,3-β-d-glucan (BG) is a component of fungal cell wall and is widely used as a marker to diagnose invasive fungal infections in immunocompromised patients.2 Although the specificity of this marker is substantially high as demonstrated by the newest meta-analysis that included six cohort studies of patients with hematologic malignancies,3 it is widely recognized that the specificity of BG can be decreased by several clinical factors such as hemodialysis using cellulose membranes and glucan-containing agents.