Prospective Study
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World J Gastroenterol. Sep 14, 2014; 20(34): 12260-12268
Published online Sep 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i34.12260
Prospective observational multicenter study to define a diagnostic algorithm for biliary candidiasis
Philipp Lenz, Franziska Eckelskemper, Thomas Erichsen, Tim Lankisch, Alexander Dechêne, Gabriele Lubritz, Frank Lenze, Torsten Beyna, Hansjörg Ullerich, Andre Schmedt, Dirk Domagk
Philipp Lenz, Franziska Eckelskemper, Frank Lenze, Torsten Beyna, Hansjörg Ullerich, Andre Schmedt, Dirk Domagk, Department of Medicine B, University of Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
Thomas Erichsen, Tim Lankisch, Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
Alexander Dechêne, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
Gabriele Lubritz, Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
Author contributions: Lenz P contributed to the design of the study, analysis and interpretation of data, statistical analysis, drafting of the manuscript; Eckelskemper F contributed to the acquisition of data; Erichsen T, Lankisch T, Dechêne A and Lubritz G contributed to the acquisition of data, contribution to the manuscript with important intellectual content; Beyna T, Ullerich H, Schmedt A and Lenze F contributed to the acquisition of data; Domagk D contributed to the study design, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data, drafting of the manuscript, study supervision.
Supported by An Investigator-Initiated Studies Program of MSD Sharp and Dohme GmbH and a research fellowship (to Lenz P) from the Faculty of Medicine, Westfaelische Wilhelms-Universität Muenster
Correspondence to: Philipp Lenz, MD, Department of Medicine B, University of Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building A1, D-48149 Muenster, Germany. lenzph@uni-muenster.de
Telephone: + 49-251-8349509 Fax: + 49-251-8347570
Received: November 14, 2013
Revised: January 14, 2014
Accepted: April 27, 2014
Published online: September 14, 2014
Processing time: 311 Days and 0.8 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: This prospective multicenter study evaluates the clinical impact of microbial analysis of bile fluid in diagnosing biliary candidiasis. Additionally, a diagnostic algorithm is established to facilitate the clinical management and to improve antimicrobial therapy in patients with cholangitis and involvement of fungal species.