Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
4
pubmed:dateCreated
2010-3-26
pubmed:abstractText
Purpose. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is increasingly important for the rapid detection of fungal keratitis. However, techniques of specimen collection and DNA extraction before PCR may interfere with test sensitivity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of DNA-stabilizing FTA filter paper (Indicating FTA filter paper; Whatman International, Ltd., Maidstone, UK) for specimen collection without DNA extraction in a single-step, nonnested PCR for fungal keratitis. Methods. Specimens were collected from ocular surfaces with FTA filter discs, which automatically lyse collected cells and stabilize nucleic acids. Filter discs were directly used in single-step PCR reactions to detect fungal DNA. Test sensitivity was evaluated with serial dilutions of Candida albicans, Fusarium oxysporum, and Aspergillus fumigatus cultures. Test specificity was analyzed by comparing 196 and 155 healthy individuals from Switzerland and Egypt, respectively, with 15 patients with a diagnosis of microbial keratitis. Results. PCR with filter discs detected 3 C. albicans, 25 F. oxysporum, and 125 A. fumigatus organisms. In healthy volunteers, fungal PCR was positive in 1.0% and 8.4% of eyes from Switzerland and Egypt, respectively. Fungal PCR remained negative in 10 cases of culture-proven bacterial keratitis, became positive in 4 cases of fungal keratitis, but missed 1 case of culture-proven A. fumigatus keratitis. Conclusions. FTA filter paper for specimen collection together with direct PCR is a promising method of detecting fungal keratitis. The analytical sensitivity is high without the need for a semi-nested or nested second PCR, the clinical specificity is 91.7% to 99.0%, and the method is rapid and inexpensive.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Apr
pubmed:issn
1552-5783
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Electronic
pubmed:volume
51
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1905-10
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed-meshheading:19850832-Aged, pubmed-meshheading:19850832-Corneal Ulcer, pubmed-meshheading:19850832-DNA, Fungal, pubmed-meshheading:19850832-Eye Infections, Fungal, pubmed-meshheading:19850832-False Positive Reactions, pubmed-meshheading:19850832-Female, pubmed-meshheading:19850832-Filtration, pubmed-meshheading:19850832-Fungi, pubmed-meshheading:19850832-Humans, pubmed-meshheading:19850832-Male, pubmed-meshheading:19850832-Middle Aged, pubmed-meshheading:19850832-Mycoses, pubmed-meshheading:19850832-Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques, pubmed-meshheading:19850832-Polymerase Chain Reaction, pubmed-meshheading:19850832-Predictive Value of Tests, pubmed-meshheading:19850832-Prospective Studies, pubmed-meshheading:19850832-Sensitivity and Specificity, pubmed-meshheading:19850832-Specimen Handling
pubmed:year
2010
pubmed:articleTitle
Rapid detection of fungal keratitis with DNA-stabilizing FTA filter paper.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Ophthalmology, Cantonal Hospital Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Multicenter Study