Klin Onkol 2000; 13(6): 187-190.
Summary:
Backgrounds: Early diagnosis and treatment of mycotic infection can prevent dissemination and systemic spread of yeasts and molds in immunocompromised cancer patient.
Design and methods: In a group of 24 children aged 1-18 years with cancer and febrile neutropenia, the invasive mycotic infection was monitored using cultivation in combination with fungal DNA detection by polymerase chain reaction.
Results: Fungal DNA was found in peripheral blood in 11 episodes of febrile neutropenia in 10 patients while cultivation from blood cultures (C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata) was positive in only 5 out of 11 PCR-positive episodes of febrile neutropenia. The aspergilloma developed in a patient with bronchopneumonia and was confirmed by both histology and PCR.
Conclusions: The examination of fungal DNA by polymerase chain reaction is
reliable, fast and highly sensitive method for the detection of invasive mycotic infection enabling early targeted antifungal therapy in patients with cancer, especially during episodes of febrile neutropenia.
