Diagnosis of systemic fungal infection by polymerase chain reaction versus conventional blood culture method in patients of oncology center Mansoura University

ABSTRACT

Background: Systemic fungal infection remains a major cause of morbidity and death in patients undergoing treatment for cancer. Therefore sensitive, quick and inexpensive testes essential for diagnosing systemic fungal infecton. In our labs we commonly diagnose fungemia using convential blood culture. Convential blood culture is time-consuming and with poor sensitivity. Polymerase chain reaction [PCR] has the potential to provide a quick and inexpensive method for diagnosis of systemic fungal infection. We studied these two different methods in the diagnosis of systemic fungal infection. Aim: The aims of this study were to compare convential blood culture and PCR in the diagnosis of systemic fungal infection and to determine sensitivity, specificity of PCR