Effects of antibiotic treatment on the results of nested PCRs for scrub typhus.
In order to determine the effects of antibiotic treatment on the results of nested PCRs for scrub typhus, we investigated the frequency of positive outcomes at various times after antibiotic administration in patients with scrub typhus. The rate of detection by nested PCR with blood buffy coat before antibiotic administration was 90.5%. However, this decreased to 60.5% within 3 days after administration of antibiotics such as doxycycline and rifampin and to 10% by the fourth day following antibiotic administration. Since the sensitivity of nested PCR can be affected by antibiotic administration, clinicians should perform this PCR before antibiotic administration and at the latest within 3 days after antibiotic administration.
Kim
Dong-Min
DM
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine, 588 Seosuk-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju 501-717, Republic of Korea.
Byun
Joo Nam
JN
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012285:Orientia tsutsugamushi / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012612:Scrub Typhus / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004318:Doxycycline; D012293:Rifampin