Published in:
01-10-2014 | Original Article
Evaluation of multiplex PCR in first episodes of febrile neutropenia as a tool to improve early yeast diagnosis in leukemic/preleukemic patients
Authors:
H. Teixeira, L. Silva, C. Matias, J. F. F. Magalhães, J. M. A. Lyra, V. Magalhães, H. R. L. Melo, M. B. Jucá, C. A. A. Brito
Published in:
Supportive Care in Cancer
|
Issue 10/2014
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Abstract
In febrile neutropenic onco-hematological patients, delayed microbiological diagnosis leads to an increase in morbidity and mortality. Identification of the microorganism changes antibiotic therapy in more than half of cases; however, in only 20–30 % of such cases pathogen isolation is achieved. This study evaluates the frequency of fungus infection and its etiology in onco-hematological patients with febrile neutropenia utilizing blood cultures and non-commercial multiplex polymerase chain reaction (MT-PCR) primers. Fifty-three febrile neutropenia episodes in 35 onco-hematological patients were observed, and the results for the first unique 30 episodes are presented. Blood cultures were positive for Candida tropicalis (one case), gram-positive bacteria (two cases), and gram-negative bacteria (four cases), showing a 23.3 % microbiological isolation rate. Multiplex-PCR pan-fungal sequence was positive in 18 cases (60 %), and further sequencing identified fugal pathogens in 11 cases (Candida glabrata and Candida parapsilosis being the most common). MT-PCR pan-fungal sequence amplification was detected in 13 of 16 patients that later received antifungal treatment for clinical reasons only, while positivity was found in 5 out of 14 patients that did not receive antifungal treatment (p = 0.02). These results show that performing in-house non-commercial MT-PCR is feasible and may provide additional information about fungal infection without the need to wait for culture results. Further research is necessary to incorporate this technology into the decision-making process.