Mannose in body fluids as an indicator of invasive candidiasis.

Using gas-liquid chromatography, we measured five mannose in the serum of six nondiabetic patients with autopsy-proven invasive candidiasis. In all patients serum mannose concentrations were higher than mannose levels found in serum from normal adults and children or from patients with catheter-associated candidemia, mucosal candidiasis, and other mycoses. Spinal fluid from two patients with Candida meningitis showed increased free mannose as compared to seven non-inflammatory spinal fluid samples. However, free mannose in the serum of poorly controlled diabetics (blood glucose of greater than or equal to 300 mg/dl) did overlap concentrations in patients with invasive candidiasis. In vitro culture of Candida albicans demonstrated increasing concentrations of mannose associated with growth of the organism. We conclude that physical and chemical assay for mannose in body fluids may be a useful technique to assist in the diagnosis in invasive candidiasis.