Diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis: Application of Polymerase Chain Reaction Techniques (PCR) and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Detection of Galactomannan (EIA-GM®)

Introduction: invasive aspergillosis (AI) is a serious fungal infection caused by species of the genus Aspergillus that primarily affects leukemic and diabetic patients and those recipients of stem cell transplants, which have neutropenia. The fungi spores that colonize the lung epithelium may invade the endothelial cell lining and vascular access and thus, spread to other organs through the blood. The high mortality of the disease is related to severe immunosuppression, rapid infection progression, and especially lack of an early and efficient diagnosis. Therefore, the diagnosis in the initial infection phase is beneficial, providing a more effective therapy that can reduce the disease’s mortality rate. Objective: this study aimed at evaluating the applicability of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis: Application of Polymerase Chain Reaction Techniques (PCR) and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Detection of Galactomannan (EIA-GM) Alisson Brandao Ferreira1, Claudia Barbosa Assuncao2, Thamara Thascila Silva Silveira2, Raquel Acaiah2, Antonio Tarcisio Faria Freire3, Jorge Luiz Saliba3, Sonia Maria de Figueiredo4, Fabiana Rocha-Silva5, Rachel Basques Caligiorne6 1 Farmaceutico. Mestre em Biomedicina. Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa da Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte – IEP/SCBH. Belo Horizonte, MG – Brasil. 2 Biologa. Bolsista de Iniciacao Cientifica. IEP/SCBH. Belo Horizonte, MG – Brasil. 3 Medico. Coordenador do Servico de Controle de Infeccao Hospitalar – SCBH. Belo Horizonte, MG – Brasil. 4 Nutricionista. Doutora pela Pos-Graduacao em Biomedicina do IEP/SCBH. Belo Horizonte, MG – Brasil. 5 Biologa. Mestre em Biomedicina. IEP/SCBH. Belo Horizonte, MG – Brasil. 6 Biologa. Doutora em Ciencias. IEP/SCBH. Belo Horizonte, MG – Brasil. Apoio: CNPq – Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Cientifico e FAPEMIG – Fundacao de Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais. Diagnostico da aspergilose invasiva: Aplicacao das Tecnicas de Reacao em Cadeia da Polimerase (PCR) e Ensaio Imunoenzimatico de Deteccao da Galactomanana (EIA-GM®) DOI: 10.5935/2238-3182.20150076