polymerase chain reaction versus conventional laboratory methods in the diagnosis of fungal keratitis

Polymerase Chain Reaction for the Diagnosis of Tuberculosis

Dear Editor-in-Chief We read with interest the study by Khazaei et al. (1) in which the authors have nicely concluded that PCR is more sensitive test than Ziehl-Neelsen staining and histo-pathological examination for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB). They have rightly pointed to use PCR, selectively, in acidfast bacilli negative paucibacillary forms of TB. However, we intend to highlight few...

The use of polymerase chain reaction assay versus conventional methods in detecting neonatal chlamydial conjunctivitis.

PURPOSE To compare the performance of polymerase chain reaction versus conventional methods (cell culture and direct immunofluorescent assay) in diagnosing neonatal chlamydial conjunctivitis and their correlations to the severity of conjunctivitis. METHODS Consecutive cases of neonatal conjunctivitis were recruited over a year. Both eyes were clinically graded according to the severity of con...

Comparison of polymerase chain reaction with other laboratory methods for the diagnosis of American cutaneous leishmaniasis: diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis by polymerase chain reaction.

An evaluation of 5 laboratory methods for diagnosing American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) was carried out on patients from an endemic area of Brazil. From 164 patients presenting cutaneous lesions, and suspected to have ACL, 133 (81.1%) were confirmed for the disease by Montenegro skin test (MST) and/or parasitologic examination (PE). In both groups of patients, the positivity of polymerase c...

Laboratory in the Diagnosis of Bacterial and Fungal Keratitis

Detection of fungi by conventional methods and semi-nested PCR in patients with presumed fungal keratitis

Background and Purpose: Fungal keratitis is a suppurative, ulcerative, and sight-threatening infection of the cornea that sometimes leads to blindness. The aims of this study were: recuperating facilities for laboratory diagnosis, determining the causative microorganisms, and comparing conventional laboratory diagnostic tools and semi-nested PCR. Materials and Methods: Sampling was conducted in...

Laboratory diagnosis of fungal infections

Selection of appropriate specimens for culture and microscopic examination is based on the results of clinical and radiographic examination and consideration of the most likely fungal pathogen that may cause such an infection. Specimens should be collected under aseptic conditions or after appropriate cleaning and decontamination of the collection site and rapidly transported to the clinical my...