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Zusammenfassung. Ein neuer Sandwich-Antigen-ELISA zum Nachweis von Aspergillus-Galactomannan im Blutplasma wurde mit dem Latex-Agglutinations-Test anhand von sechs Patienten mit histologisch gesicherter invasiver Aspergillose verglichen. Der Antigen-ELISA zeigte sich dem Latex-Test in zweierlei Hinsicht uberlegen: Alle sechs Patienten wurden vom Antigen-ELISA richtig als positiv erkannt, wahrend dies beim Latex-Test nur in 5/6 der Fall war. Auserdem lieferte der Antigen-ELISA im Mittel 19 Tage fruher als der Latex-Test ein positives Testergebnis. Summary. A new sandwich antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of Aspergillus galactomannan in blood plasma was compared with the latex-agglutination test by investigation of six patients with histologically proven invasive aspergillosis. The ELISA gave positive results in all six patients while the latex test recognized 5/6 as positive. On an average the antigen ELISA gave positive results 19 days earlier than the latex test.

We report a case of a severe Fusarium solani keratitis in a 82-year-old patient with a history of surgical trauma. Antimycotic therapy and keratoplasty led to markedly improved vision. Identification of the fungus was complicated by the fact that the isolate did not produce the typical macroconidia. The second case was a fatal disseminated Fusarium verticillioides infection in a 69-year-old patient during neutropenia after chemotherapy of acute myelogenous leukemia. The patient developed pneumonia, fever, skin lesions, myalgia, and fungaemia. The clinical signs, diagnosis and therapy of localized and disseminated Fusarium infections are outlined and discussed in view of the literature.

A patient with short bowel syndrome as a consequence of multiple intestinal resections for Crohn's disease, had a port system implanted to improve her nutritional status. One year later she presented with fever, weakness and nighttime sweating. Metschnikowia pulcherrima Pitt et Miller was grown in blood cultures from the port system. After antifungal chemotherapy using fluconazole and removal of the implant, the patient's condition improved markedly and her fever and sweating disappeared. We conclude that Metschnikowia pulcherrima can turn into a human pathogen in patients with indwelling catheters for parenteral nutrition. Chemotherapy with fluconazole and, whenever possible, removal of the implant, appear to be adequate treatment.