European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology
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Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. · Nov 2002
Case ReportsRapid PCR-based diagnosis of disseminated histoplasmosis in an AIDS patient.
Disseminated histoplasmosis is an unusual opportunistic infection in patients with advanced HIV infection living outside endemic areas. Diagnosis usually is made on the basis of isolation of Histoplasma capsulatum from clinical specimens or histologic examination. ⋯ The patient recovered under antifungal treatment and remained asymptomatic up to the last follow-up visit 6 months later. The polymerase chain reaction assay might be a powerful and rapid diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of non-European invasive fungal infections and should be further evaluated.