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Detection of Fungemia by Polymerase Chain Reaction in Critically Ill Neonates and Children

Journal of Perinatology volume 23, pages 117–122 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with blood culture for the detection of fungemia in neonatal and pediatric intensive care unit patients.

STUDY DESIGN: A total of 0.2 to 0.5 ml of blood was collected simultaneously with blood culture in patients with suspected sepsis. Following DNA extraction, the gene for fungal 18S rRNA was amplified and PCR products analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis.

RESULTS: Of 70 patient samples, nine of nine with a positive blood culture for Candida were PCR positive, and one of four with a positive blood culture for Malassezia was PCR positive. In total, 13 of 57 samples with negative blood culture for fungus were PCR positive. Seven of these 13 patients had other evidence of invasive fungal disease. In contrast, none of the 44 blood culture-negative/PCR-negative patients had other evidence of fungal infection.

CONCLUSIONS: PCR may be a useful adjunct to blood culture for the rapid detection of fungemia in high-risk patients.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported in part by a grant from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (K.F.). We also thank Penny Bamford for providing expert technical advice and Patrick Murray for helpful discussions.

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Author notes

  1. Urmila H Tirodker MD

    Present address: Division of Critical Care, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA

    Urmila H Tirodker MD

  2. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA

    James P Nataro MD, PhD

  3. Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA

    Sherri Smith MD & Lauren LasCasas MD

  4. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA

    Karen D Fairchild MD

Authors
  1. Urmila H Tirodker MD
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  2. James P Nataro MD, PhD
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  3. Sherri Smith MD
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  4. Lauren LasCasas MD
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  5. Karen D Fairchild MD
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Additional information

This study was funded in part by a grant from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (K.F.).

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Tirodker, U., Nataro, J., Smith, S. et al. Detection of Fungemia by Polymerase Chain Reaction in Critically Ill Neonates and Children. J Perinatol 23, 117–122 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7210868

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