title: Invasive aspergillosis in two liver transplant recipients: diagnosis by SeptiFast.
abstract: We report the clinical features, diagnosis, and monitoring findings of invasive aspergillosis (IA) in 2 liver transplant recipients. Blood/serum samples and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids were analyzed by a novel commercial polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay (SeptiFast) and an Aspergillus galactomannan (GM) enzyme-linked immunoassay (EIA). The diagnosis of IA could be performed in <6 h with the detection of Aspergillus fumigatus DNA in blood and BAL fluid. High GM values (mean: 9.1, range: 7.3-10.8) in serum and BAL fluid confirmed the SeptiFast result. Follow-up of the SeptiFast findings and GM index correlated with the clinical course. The molecular detection of A. fumigatus-specific DNA and GM test in blood/serum and BAL samples appears to be a useful tool for prompt diagnosis of IA. Further prospective clinical trials are necessary to evaluate the accuracy of SeptiFast and the GM test in diagnosing IA.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steinmann
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buer
authors.forename: P-M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Rath
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saner
mesh_terms: D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000097:blood; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000097:blood; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C449087:galactomannoprotein, Aspergillus fumigatus