scholarly journals Comparison of Multiplex Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel and Conventional Stool Testing for Evaluation of Patients With HIV Infection

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Sobczyk ◽  
Sonia Jain ◽  
Xiaoying Sun ◽  
Maile Karris ◽  
Darcy Wooten ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Gastrointestinal pathogen panels (GPPs) are increasingly used to identify stool pathogens, but their impact in people with HIV (PWH) is unknown. We performed a retrospective cohort study comparing GPP and conventional stool evaluation in PWH. Methods We included all PWH who underwent GPP (Biofire Diagnostics; implemented September 15, 2015) or conventional testing, including stool culture, Clostridium difficile polymerase chain reaction testing, fluorescent smears for Cryptosporidium or Giardia, and ova and parasite exams (O&P) from 2013 to 2017. A total of 1941 specimens were tested, with 169 positive specimens detected in 144 patients. We compared result turnaround time, pathogen co-infection, antibiotic treatment, and treatment outcomes between positive specimens detected by conventional testing vs GPP. Results Overall, 124 patient samples tested positive by GPP, compared with 45 patient specimens by conventional testing. The GPP group demonstrated a higher co-infection rate (48.4% vs 13.3%; P < .001) and quicker turnaround time (23.4 vs 71.4 hours; P < .001). The GPP identified 29 potential viral infections that were undetectable by conventional stool tests. Unnecessary anti-infective therapy was avoided in 9 of 11 exclusively viral infections. Exclusively nonpathogenic parasites (n = 13) were detected by conventional stool tests, the majority of which were treated with metronidazole. There were no significant differences in clinical outcomes between groups. Conclusions In PWH, GPP implementation improved antibiotic stewardship through shorter turnaround times and detection of enteric viral pathogens.

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 198-206
Author(s):  
Keita Nakanishi ◽  
Hiroshi Kaito ◽  
Miki Ogi ◽  
Denshi Takai ◽  
Junya Fujimura ◽  
...  

Viral infections in patients with post-kidney transplantation are often difficult to diagnose as well as treat. We herein report three cases with severe viral infections after kidney transplantation. All their causative pathogens could be detected promptly by polymerase chain reaction and flow cytometry during the early stages of infection. These examinations would also be of great use to monitor therapeutic responses and disease activity. It is indeed true that no specific treatment is available for most of the viral infections, but we should be aware that some infections, such as Epstein-Barr virus infection, can be treatable with prompt and specific treatment, such as rituximab.


2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tara Mauro ◽  
Kenneth Harkin

ABSTRACT In dogs with leptospirosis, doxycycline therapy is recommended as the preferred therapy for its ability to eliminate the organism from all tissues, including the renal tubules. Elimination of organisms from the renal tubules terminates leptospiruria and prevents transmission of the organism. This report describes the discovery of persistent leptospiruria in the face of therapy with doxycycline in four dogs and enrofloxacin in one dog. Leptospiruria was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction testing for pathogenic leptospires in all five dogs. In two dogs, leptospiruria resolved after a change in therapy to enrofloxacin. In three dogs, doxycycline and/or enrofloxacin were ineffective at eliminating leptospiruria, which then resolved after therapy with clarithromycin. Pet owners could be at risk as persistent leptospiruria poses a potential zoonotic risk. The potential reasons for persistent leptospiruria as demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction testing are discussed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S503-S503
Author(s):  
Courtney C Sutton ◽  
Patti J Walton ◽  
Montgomery F Williams ◽  
Tracey L Bastian ◽  
Michael Wright ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo Marques da Silveira ◽  
Stéfhano Luis Cândido ◽  
Karin Rinaldi dos Santos ◽  
Maerle Oliveira Maia ◽  
Roberto Lopes de Souza ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT: Sepsis is characterized by the presence of organ dysfunction secondary to the dysregulated systemic inflammatory response associated with an infection, and has high mortality rates. Traditional diagnostic techniques based on non-microbiological isolation are time-consuming and may delay treatment. Thus, this study aimed to compare bacterial and fungal broad-range polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and blood culture for diagnosis of sepsis in dogs. Blood samples from 88 dogs with suspected sepsis were analyzed by blood culture, and PCR to detect bacterial and fungal DNA. On blood culture, 20 (22.7%) samples tested positive for bacterial isolates; however, none tested positive for fungi. Through PCR analysis, bacterial DNA was detected in 46 (52.3%) animals, whereas fungal DNA was present in one (1.1%) sample. Our results showed that PCR-based testing has important diagnostic value for canine blood infections because it has a shorter turnaround time and higher sensitivity than traditional blood culture.


2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (7) ◽  
pp. 1900-1909 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan E. Axelrad ◽  
Andrew Joelson ◽  
Yael Nobel ◽  
Susan Whittier ◽  
Garrett Lawlor ◽  
...  

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