European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology
-
Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. · Oct 2001
Case ReportsDiagnosis of disseminated zygomycosis using a polymerase chain reaction assay.
Invasive pulmonary zygomycosis is an uncommon opportunistic infection in patients with haematological malignancies. Clinical manifestations are in distinguishable from the more frequent invasive aspergillosis. ⋯ A case in which proven invasive pulmonary zygomycosis was confirmed using a panfungal polymerase chain reaction assay in blood is presented. Since zygomycosis requires more aggressive treatment than aspergillosis (high-dose amphotericin B and surgical intervention), the polymerase chain reaction assay may improve the outcome of these often fatal infections by guiding the therapeutic approach through an early, non-invasive diagnosis.