Application of special staining techniques in pathological diagnosis of fungi infections in HIV/AIDS patients / 中华临床感染病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To apply special staining techniques in pathological diagnosis of fungal infections in HIV/AIDS patients.Methods Pathological data of 20 HIV/AIDS patients complicated with fungi infections in Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center during February 2010 and November 2013 were retrospectively analyzed.Tissue specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE),Periodic acidSchiff (PAS) and methenamine silver nitrate (MSN),and the sections were observed under optical microscope.Results Among 20 HIV/AIDS patients complicated with fungi infections,2 were infected with pulmonary cryptococcosis; 3 were penicillium marneffei infections in skin,lung and abdominal mesenteric lymph nodes; 5 were histoplasma capsulatum infections in epiglottis,neck lymph nodes,oral cavity,abdominal cavity and skin; 4 were aspergillus infections in maxillary sinus,lung and vocal cords,and 3 of them were combined with tuberculous lesions; 6 were candida albicans infections in liver,pharynx,esophagus and stomach.In tissues stained with HE the infiltration of inflammatory cells,granuloma formation and coagulative necrosis were observed,and the shape of fungi needed careful observation to avoid missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis.In tissues stained with PAS,fungal spores and pseudohypha were presented in bright amaranth,and cell nucleus was in purple-blue.In tissues stained with MSN,fungal spores and pseudohypha were identified clearly in brown-black.Conclusion HE plus PAS and MSN staining will help pathological diagnosis of fungi infection.