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Rapid Detection of Pathogenic Fungi from Clinical Specimens Using LightCycler Real-Time Fluorescence PCR

Imhof, A. ; Schaer, C. ; Schoedon, G. ; Schaer, D. ; Walter, R. ; Schaffner, A. ; Schneemann, M.

In: European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 2003, vol. 22, no. 9, p. 558-560

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    Title
    • Rapid Detection of Pathogenic Fungi from Clinical Specimens Using LightCycler Real-Time Fluorescence PCR
    Author
    • Imhof, A.. Program in Infectious Disease, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue N, D3-100, WA 98109-1024, Seattle, USA
    • Schaer, C.. Department of Medicine, Clinical Mycology, Medical Clinic B, University Hospital Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland
    • Schoedon, G.. Department of Medicine, Clinical Mycology, Medical Clinic B, University Hospital Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland
    • Schaer, D.. Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland
    • Walter, R.. Pediatric Oncology, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue N, D2-373, WA 98109-1024, Seattle, USA
    • Schaffner, A.. Department of Medicine, Clinical Mycology, Medical Clinic B, University Hospital Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland
    • Schneemann, M.. Department of Medicine, Clinical Mycology, Medical Clinic B, University Hospital Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland
    Document Type
    • Postprint
    Language
    • English
    Published in
    • European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 2003, vol. 22, no. 9, p. 558-560. Springer-Verlag
    Other Version
    Classification
    • Health
    OAI-PMH Identifier
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:316150
    Summary
    In the study presented here a LightCycler real-time PCR system was used for the diagnosis of fungal infections from clinical tissue samples. Nine specimens were investigated from six patients with suspected or proven invasive fungal infections. Seven of nine samples were positive in a broad-range fungal PCR assay. In four samples, Aspergillus fumigatus was detected both by a species-specific hybridization assay as well as by sequencing of amplification products. In addition, the broad-range fungal PCR assay and PCR sequencing detected and identified, respectively, the following organisms in the specimens noted: Candida albicans in a culture-negative liver biopsy, Histoplasma capsulatum in a bone marrow sample, and Conidiobolus coronatus in a facial soft tissue specimen. Real-time PCR is a promising tool for the diagnosis of invasive fungal infections in human tissue samples and offers some advantages over culture methods, such as rapid analysis and increased sensitivity