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Comparison of 2 real-time PCR assays for diagnosis of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and non-HIV immunocompromised patients

par Montesinos Hernandez, Isabel ;Brancart, Francoise ;Schepers, Kinda ;Jacobs, Frédérique ;Denis, Olivier ;Delforge, Marie-Luce
Référence Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease, 82, 2, page (143-147)
Publication Publié, 2015-06

Article révisé par les pairs

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Résumé :

A total of 120 bronchoalveolar lavage specimens from HIV and non-HIV immunocompromised patients, positive for Pneumocystis jirovecii by an "in house" real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), were evaluated by the Bio-Evolution Pneumocystis real-time PCR, a commercial quantitative assay. Patients were classified in 2 categories based on clinical and radiological findings: definite and unlikely Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP). For the "in house" PCR, cycle threshold 34 was established as cut-off value to discriminate definite PCP from unlikely PCP with 65% and 85% of sensitivity and specificity, respectively. For the Bio-Evolution quantitative PCR, a cut-off value of 2.8×105copies/mL was defined with 72% and 82% of sensitivity and specificity, respectively. Overlapped zones of results for definite and unlikely PCP were observed. Quantitative PCR is probably a useful tool for PCP diagnosis. However, for optimal management of PCP in non-HIV immunocompromised patients, operational thresholds should be assessed according to underlying diseases and other clinical and radiological parameters.