Fungal DNA detected in blood samples of patients who received contaminated methylprednisolone injections reveals increased complexity of causative agents.
Using Exserohilum rostratum-specific and panfungal real-time PCR, we studied 24 blood samples and 2 synovial fluid specimens from 20 patients with persistent or worsening pain following injections of contaminated methylprednisolone. Seven blood specimens from 6 patients were significantly positive for fungal DNA by panfungal PCR, with multiple fungal species identified.
Public Health Research Institute Center, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, USA Exserohilum Meningitis Research Consortium, New York, New York, USA.
Yanan
Y
Zhao
SICC LLC, Evansville, Indiana, USA.
Emilian
E
Armeanu
Premier Orthopaedic Associates, Mullica Hill, New Jersey, USA.
Richard
R
DiVerniero
Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Counseling, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua, Taiwan, China.
Terri A
TA
Lewis
2117 Buffalo Rd., Suite 124, Rochester, New York, USA.
Richard C
RC
Dobson
Exserohilum Meningitis Research Consortium, New York, New York, USA Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
Dimitrios P
DP
Kontoyiannis
Exserohilum Meningitis Research Consortium, New York, New York, USA 3rd Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University School of Health Sciences, Hippokration General Hospital, Salonika, Greece.
Emmanuel
E
Roilides
Exserohilum Meningitis Research Consortium, New York, New York, USA Transplantation-Oncology Infectious Diseases Program, Department of Pediatrics, Microbiology & Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Thomas J
TJ
Walsh
Public Health Research Institute Center, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, USA Exserohilum Meningitis Research Consortium, New York, New York, USA perlinds@njms.rutgers.edu.
David S
DS
Perlin
D000328:Adult; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics*; D004340:Drug Contamination; D005260:Female; D016469:Fungemia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000382:microbiology
D004271:DNA, Fungal; D008775:Methylprednisolone