Detection of fungal DNA in human body fluids and tissues during a multistate outbreak of fungal meningitis and other infections.

ABSTRACT: Exserohilum rostratum was the major cause of an outbreak of fungal infections linked to injections of contaminated methylprednisolone acetate. Because almost 14,000 persons were exposed to product that was possibly contaminated with multiple fungal pathogens, there was unprecedented need for a rapid throughput diagnostic test that could detect both E. rostratum and other unusual agents of fungal infection. Here we report development of a novel PCR test that allowed for rapid and specific detection of fungal DNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), other body fluids and tissues of infected individuals. The test relied on direct purification of free-circulating fungal DNA from fluids and subsequent PCR amplification and sequencing. Using this method, we detected Exserohilum rostratum DNA in 123 sam

SUBMITTER: Gade L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3647775 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature