[Usefulness of panfungal PCR for the diagnosis of fungal infection in immunocompromised patients]

Pathol Biol (Paris). 2004 Nov;52(9):544-9. doi: 10.1016/j.patbio.2004.07.034.
[Article in French]

Abstract

The diagnostic of invasive fungal infection is often difficult because of the low sensitivity of fungal culture from infected tissues. Here we have assessed the ability of a panfungal PCR targeted on the DNA region encoding the RNA genes followed by sequencing of the amplification products to detect and identify fungi from tissue biopsies. This assay allowed us to identify the microorganism responsible for an invasive fungal infection in three of our patients. In two cases, hepatosplenic candidiasis was suspected and Candida albicans DNA was detected from liver biopsies. The third patient was cared for a thymome and developed a manubrium osteitis caused by Scedosporium apiospermum.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Base Sequence
  • Candida albicans / genetics
  • Candida albicans / isolation & purification
  • Candidiasis / diagnosis*
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Fungal / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Amplification
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host*
  • Male
  • Mycoses / diagnosis*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Fungal