Molecular and Microscopy Detection of in Hospitalized Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Overview

Journal Front Med (Lausanne)

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2023 Apr 24

PMID 37089605

Authors

Roya Matouri

Shima Aboutalebian

Elahe Nasri

Somayeh Sadeghi

Soodabeh Rostami

Hamed Fakhim

Safiyeh Ghafel

Mahnaz Hosseini

Somayeh Mousavi

Faezeh Rouhi

Nader Pestechian

Hossein Mirhendi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Early detection of as an opportunistic pathogen that may endanger predisposed persons, including COVID-19 patients, may help to choose the optimal management.

Methods: In this study, 585, including 530 COVID-19 patients, with clinical and radiological evidence of respiratory diseases, were investigated for screening. Clinical specimens were examined by direct microscopy and PCR, and randomly selected positive PCR products were confirmed through DNA sequence analysis.

Results: Thirty-one (5.3%) samples were positive in -specific nested-PCR, while by direct microscopic tests, was observed in 22 (3.76%) samples. Males (61.7%) and patients over 50 years old (75.6%) were more commonly affected than others, and malaise and fatigue (84%), and wheezing (75%) were the most common symptoms, followed by fever (40.48%) and dyspnea (39.51%). Among the Pneumocystis-positive patients, three cases had coinfection with , , and (each = 1), as documented by direct microscopy, culture, and species identification by PCR-sequencing.

Conclusion: Pneumocystis pneumonia is still a diagnostic challenge; therefore, additional large-scale studies are needed to clarify the epidemiology of the disease in immunocompromised or COVID-19 patients.

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