Biomarkers for the diagnosis of invasive fungal infections

A method for treating an acute invasive fungal infection in a subject, comprising the step of

• measuring a level of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1) in a sample from the subject, and
• administering an effective amount of an antifungal agent to the subject, wherein the level of ICAM1 is increased 1.5 fold as compared to the level of ICAM1 in a control and indicates the presence of the acute invasive fungal infection in the subject, thereby treating the subject, and wherein:
• a) the fungal infection is caused by a Candida spp., an Aspergillus spp., or a combination thereof,
• b) the subject has Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) or sepsis;
• c) the antifungal agent comprises a polyene antifungal drug, an echinocandin, an azole antifungal drug, an allylamine antifungal drug, a morpholine antifungal drug, or an anti-metabolite antifungal drug;
• and
• d) the control is the amount of ICAM1 in a sample from a subject with fungal colonization or the amount of ICAM1 is a sample from a subject without a fungal infection.