Bloodstream Infections Are an Improbable Cause of Positive Serum (1,3)-β-D-Glucan in Hematology Patients

Ninety-one serum samples from 51 hematology patients with bacteremia infections were tested for (1,3)-beta-D-glucan (BG). Eleven samples (15%) from 7 patients (14%) were positive for BG. Of these 7 patients with positive BG results, 4 (8%) had invasive aspergillosis and 3 (6%) had no invasive fungal disease. Bacteremia was an unlikely cause of the false-positive BG results.