The laboratory evaluation of opportunistic pulmonary infections

Article Abstract:

The availability of polymerase chain reaction tests may be helpful in identifying the specific cause of disease but may be costly and as yet impractical for routine use. Polymerase chain reaction tests are tests that rapidly multiply the infectious organism for quicker and more accurate identification. Researchers outlined the current procedures and described the preliminary use of polymerase chain reaction tests for identifying organisms that cause infections in the lung and respiratory tract. Doctors currently use antibody tests on fluid samples from the lung or bronchial tubes to identify Legionella infections. An antibody test called shell vial culture can simply and quickly identify viral infections. Blood tests can identify mycoplasma and chlamydia pneumonia, while staining tests can quickly identify Pneumocystis carinii infections. A fluorescent staining test has proven effective in identifying fungal infections. Individual clinics may wish to invest in using polymerase chain reaction tests that identify organisms prevalent in their clinics.

Methods, Infection, Lungs, Lung, Pneumonia, Opportunistic infections, Diagnosis, Laboratory, Laboratory diagnosis

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Lack of clinical utility of cytomegalovirus blood and urine cultures in patients with HIV infection

Article Abstract:

HIV-infected individuals who have a positive blood or urine culture for cytomegalovirus (CMV) may not be more likely to develop CMV end-organ disease than those who do not. End-organ diseases often caused by CMV in HIV-positive individuals include retinitis, enteritis and pneumonitis. Among 615 HIV-infected patients, 322 underwent a blood culture for CMV and 293 underwent a urine culture for CMV. Thirty-five percent of the patients with a positive blood culture for CMV subsequently developed CMV end-stage disease. Thirty-two percent of the patients with a positive urine culture developed CMV end-organ disease. Of the 29 patients who underwent a blood or urine test within seven days of developing CMV end-organ disease, 55% had a positive blood culture for CMV and 88% had a positive urine culture for CMV. A positive blood culture for CMV was not associated with a fever or weight loss among these patients.

Complications and side effects, HIV infection, HIV infections, Cytomegalovirus infections

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