Caister Academic Press

Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Infections

D.S. Perlin
from: Real-Time PCR: Current Technology and Applications (Edited by: Julie Logan, Kirstin Edwards and Nick Saunders). Caister Academic Press, U.K. (2009)

Abstract

The mounting prevalence of invasive fungal disease in immunocompromised patients is exacerbated by inadequate methods for pathogen detection. PCR-based amplification approaches have been developed to address this problem because conventional methods for pathogen identification lack sensitivity, specificity and speed, and some infectious organisms are difficult to culture. PCR amplification of ribosomal genes and their internal transcribed spacer regions coupled with sequence-specific detection probes are the most reliable approaches for fungal identification. Real-time self-reporting probes capable of single nucleotide allelic discrimination have expanded PCR applications to target mechanisms of drug resistance. Clinical applications of PCR are expanding for diagnosing invasive fungal diseases in blood and respiratory specimens at an early stage to improve treatment outcomes for high risk patients read more ...
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