The Journal of infection
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The Journal of infection · May 2015
Observational StudyPerformance of pro-adrenomedullin for identifying adverse outcomes in community-acquired pneumonia.
We sought to evaluate the usefulness of biomarkers-procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP) and proadrenomedullin (pro-ADM)-combined with prognostic scales (PSI, CURB-65 and SCAP score) for identifying adverse outcomes in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) attending at an Emergency Department (ED). ⋯ A new risk score combining SCAP score with pro-ADM level is useful to classify severity risk in CAP patients and hence supporting decision-making on hospital admission.
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The Journal of infection · May 2015
Reliability of risk-based screening for hepatitis C virus infection among pregnant women in Egypt.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) only recommends risk-based HCV screening for pregnant women in the United States. This study sought to determine the reliability of risk-based versus universal HCV screening for pregnant women in Egypt, a country with the world's highest HCV prevalence that also relies on risk-based screening, and to identify additional characteristics that could increase the reliability of risk-based screening. ⋯ Universal antenatal HCV screening was widely accepted (100%) and traditional risk-based screening alone would have missed 3 (10%) chronically infected women, thereby supporting universal screening of pregnant women whenever possible. Otherwise, risk-based screening should be modified to include history of prior pregnancy and healthcare employment.
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The Journal of infection · Apr 2015
Multicenter StudyXpert MTB/RIF assay for diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in children: a prospective, multi-centre evaluation.
Following endorsement by the World Health Organisation, the Xpert MTB/RIF assay has been widely incorporated into algorithms for the diagnosis of adult tuberculosis (TB). However, data on its performance in children remain scarce. This prospective, multi-centre study evaluated the performance of Xpert MTB/RIF to diagnose pulmonary tuberculosis in children. ⋯ Xpert MTB/RIF provided timely results with moderate sensitivity and excellent specificity compared to culture. Low yields in children with highly probable and probable TB remain problematic.
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The Journal of infection · Apr 2015
IP-10 differentiates between active and latent tuberculosis irrespective of HIV status and declines during therapy.
Biomarkers for diagnosis and therapy efficacy in tuberculosis (TB) are requested. We have studied biomarkers that may differentiate between active and latent TB infection (LTBI), the influence of HIV infection and changes during anti-TB chemotherapy. ⋯ IP-10 distinguished with high accuracy active TB from LTBI irrespective of HIV infection and declined during anti-TB chemotherapy. Plasma IP-10 may serve as a diagnostic biomarker to differentiate between the stages of TB infection and for monitoring therapy efficacy.
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The Journal of infection · Apr 2015
Adjunctive biomarkers for improving diagnosis of tuberculosis and monitoring therapeutic effects.
To identify host biomarkers associated with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), active tuberculosis (TB), and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) diseases to improve diagnosis and effective anti-TB treatment. ⋯ Serum IL-2, IL-9, IL-13, IL-17, TNF-α, sCD40L and VEGF-A levels may be adjunctive biomarkers for differential diagnosis of active TB, LTBI, and NTM disease. Assessment of serum sCD40L and M. tb antigen-specific IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 levels could help predict successful anti-TB treatment in conjunction with M. tb clearance.