Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Invasive fungal infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in a broad range of patients. Adequate and early diagnosis is a challenge and of importance for improved survival. New molecular-based diagnostic methods are trendsetting, yet with the drawback that conventional tests receive less attention, in the laboratory as well as in the clinical setting.
OBJECTIVE: We aimed to provide a useful recommendation for direct microscopy for effectively managing numerous specimens related to fungal infections, mainly covering opportunistic pathogens.
METHODS: A PubMed literature search covering direct fungal microscopy was performed with no restrictions on publication dates.
BACKGROUND: Best practise recommendations targeting the role of direct microscopy in diagnosing fungal infections are given. This review highlights when to perform direct microscopy, displays the main fungal morphologies, discusses the pitfalls related to microscopy, and recommends how to best report the results to clinicians.
CONCLUSIONS: In many samples, the performance of direct microscopy provides an important diagnostic benefit that is greater than culture alone. Fluorescent dyes improve sensitivity and allow a fast and rapid read. Reporting includes the presence or absence of yeast forms, septate or non-septate hyphae, pigmentation, cellular location, or any other specific structures being present. The visualization of fungal elements from a sterile body site is proof of an infection, independent of other test reports.
OBJECTIVE: We aimed to provide a useful recommendation for direct microscopy for effectively managing numerous specimens related to fungal infections, mainly covering opportunistic pathogens.
METHODS: A PubMed literature search covering direct fungal microscopy was performed with no restrictions on publication dates.
BACKGROUND: Best practise recommendations targeting the role of direct microscopy in diagnosing fungal infections are given. This review highlights when to perform direct microscopy, displays the main fungal morphologies, discusses the pitfalls related to microscopy, and recommends how to best report the results to clinicians.
CONCLUSIONS: In many samples, the performance of direct microscopy provides an important diagnostic benefit that is greater than culture alone. Fluorescent dyes improve sensitivity and allow a fast and rapid read. Reporting includes the presence or absence of yeast forms, septate or non-septate hyphae, pigmentation, cellular location, or any other specific structures being present. The visualization of fungal elements from a sterile body site is proof of an infection, independent of other test reports.
摘要：
背景：侵袭性真菌感染是广泛患者发病和死亡的重要原因。充分和早期诊断是一个挑战，和提高生存率的重要性。新的基于分子的诊断方法具有趋势，但缺点是常规测试受到的关注较少，在实验室和临床环境中。
目的：我们旨在为直接显微镜检查提供一个有用的建议，用于有效管理大量与真菌感染相关的标本，主要涵盖机会性病原体。
方法：进行了PubMed文献检索，涵盖了真菌直接显微镜检查，对出版日期没有限制。
背景：给出了针对直接显微镜在诊断真菌感染中的作用的最佳实践建议。这篇评论强调了何时进行直接显微镜检查，显示主要真菌形态，讨论与显微镜相关的陷阱，并建议如何最好地将结果报告给临床医生。
结论：在许多样本中，直接显微镜的性能提供了比单独培养更大的重要诊断益处。荧光染料提高了灵敏度并允许快速和快速的读取。报告包括是否存在酵母形式，纵隔或非纵隔菌丝，色素沉着,细胞位置或存在任何其他特定结构。从无菌身体部位可视化真菌元素是感染的证据，独立于其他测试报告。
目的：我们旨在为直接显微镜检查提供一个有用的建议，用于有效管理大量与真菌感染相关的标本，主要涵盖机会性病原体。
方法：进行了PubMed文献检索，涵盖了真菌直接显微镜检查，对出版日期没有限制。
背景：给出了针对直接显微镜在诊断真菌感染中的作用的最佳实践建议。这篇评论强调了何时进行直接显微镜检查，显示主要真菌形态，讨论与显微镜相关的陷阱，并建议如何最好地将结果报告给临床医生。
结论：在许多样本中，直接显微镜的性能提供了比单独培养更大的重要诊断益处。荧光染料提高了灵敏度并允许快速和快速的读取。报告包括是否存在酵母形式，纵隔或非纵隔菌丝，色素沉着,细胞位置或存在任何其他特定结构。从无菌身体部位可视化真菌元素是感染的证据，独立于其他测试报告。
