Identification of Pneumocystis carinii DNA by polymerase chain reaction in necropsy lung samples from children dying of respiratory tract illnesses

Polymerase chain reaction for Pneumocystis carinii DNA was performed on necropsy lung samples from children by means of P carinii-specific primers. P carinii DNA was identified in 22 of 22 (100%) samples with histologically proven P carinii pneumonia and 13 of 75 (17%) with non– P carinii pneumonia...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of pediatrics 2002-03, Vol.140 (3), p.367-369
Main Authors: Kasolo, Francis, Lishimpi, Kennedy, Chintu, Chifumbe, Mwaba, Peter, Mudenda, Victor, Maswahu, Daniel, Terunuma, Hiroshi, Fletcher, Helen, Nunn, Andrew, Lucas, Sebastian, Zumla, Alimuddin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Autopsy
DNA, Bacterial - analysis
Humans
Lung - microbiology
Pneumocystis - genetics
Pneumocystis - isolation & purification
Pneumonia, Pneumocystis - diagnosis
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Sensitivity and Specificity
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Summary:Polymerase chain reaction for Pneumocystis carinii DNA was performed on necropsy lung samples from children by means of P carinii-specific primers. P carinii DNA was identified in 22 of 22 (100%) samples with histologically proven P carinii pneumonia and 13 of 75 (17%) with non– P carinii pneumonia respiratory illness (sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 83%). The low specificity precludes the use of polymerase chain reaction as an alternative to histopathologic diagnosis. (J Pediatr 2002;140:367-9)
ISSN:0022-3476
1097-6833
DOI:10.1067/mpd.2002.122468