Quantitative PCR to Discriminate Between Pneumocystis Pneumonia and Colonization in HIV and Non-HIV Immunocompromised Patients.

ABSTRACT: Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is an opportunistic infection that commonly occurs in immunocompromised individuals. A definite diagnosis of PCP can be made only when the organism is identified in a respiratory specimen. It remains unclear whether qPCR can differentiate patients with PCP from those with Pneumocystis jirovecii colonization. In this study, we retrospectively collected data from HIV and non-HIV patients during 2013-2019. A diagnosis of definite, probable PCP, or PCP excluded was made based on clinical criteria, radiological reports, and three standard laboratory staining methods with blinding to qPCR data. Data from qPCR that was performed to determine the fungal burden (DNA copies/μl) in the BAL specimens of 69 HIV and 286 non-HIV patients were then obtained and r

SUBMITTER: Sarasombath PT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8564139 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature