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Invasive aspergillosis in two liver transplant recipients: diagnosis by SeptiFast
Author(s) -
Steinmann J.,
Buer J.,
Rath P.M.,
Paul A.,
Saner F.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
transplant infectious disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.69
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1399-3062
pISSN - 1398-2273
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3062.2009.00367.x
Subject(s) - galactomannan , medicine , bronchoalveolar lavage , aspergillus fumigatus , aspergillosis , aspergillus , immunoassay , gastroenterology , polymerase chain reaction , immunology , pathology , microbiology and biotechnology , antibody , gene , lung , biology , biochemistry
We report the clinical features, diagnosis, and monitoring findings of invasive aspergillosis (IA) in 2 liver transplant recipients. Blood/serum samples and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids were analyzed by a novel commercial polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay (SeptiFast) and an Aspergillus galactomannan (GM) enzyme‐linked immunoassay (EIA). The diagnosis of IA could be performed in <6 h with the detection of Aspergillus fumigatus DNA in blood and BAL fluid. High GM values (mean: 9.1, range: 7.3–10.8) in serum and BAL fluid confirmed the SeptiFast result. Follow‐up of the SeptiFast findings and GM index correlated with the clinical course. The molecular detection of A. fumigatus ‐specific DNA and GM test in blood/serum and BAL samples appears to be a useful tool for prompt diagnosis of IA. Further prospective clinical trials are necessary to evaluate the accuracy of SeptiFast and the GM test in diagnosing IA.