Evaluation of the mannan antigen assay in neonates with or without Candida albicans colonization.

Mannan antigen (MA) in neonates as a marker of invasive candidemia is not well studied, although 4% of all neonatal intensive care unit admissions are attributed to Candida spp. infections. The aim of this case-control study was to evaluate the performance of MA (Platelia™ Candida AgPluskit, Bio-Rad) in neonates who had rectal Candida colonization or in non-colonized controls. We cultured 340 rectal swabs of neonates and MA was negative in 24/25 C. albicans colonized (96% specificity) and in 30/30 non-colonized neonates (100% specificity). The results indicate a high specificity of the assay, which could be useful in neonates with possible candidemia.