PCR-based detection of Bacillus anthracis in formalin-fixed tissue from a patient receiving ciprofloxacin.
We demonstrate that Bacillus anthracis may be detected from a formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded biopsy specimen, even after the patient has received antibiotic treatment. Although traditional PCR methods may not be sufficiently sensitive for anthrax detection in such patients, cycle numbers can be increased or PCR can be repeated by using an aliquot from a previous PCR as the template.
Levine
Steven M
SM
Departments of Medicine. Microbiology. Pathology, New York University School of Medicine. Veterans Affairs Medical Center, New York, New York 10016, USA.
Perez-Perez
Guillermo
G
Olivares
Asalia
A
Yee
Herman
H
Hanna
Bruce A
BA
Blaser
Martin J
MJ
D000328:Adult; D000881:Anthrax / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001706:Biopsy; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005404:Fixatives; D005557:Formaldehyde; D006801:Humans; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D016707:Tissue Fixation / Q000379:methods*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D005404:Fixatives; D005557:Formaldehyde; D002939:Ciprofloxacin