Evaluation of Panfungal Polymerase Chain Reaction in Early Detection of Invasive Fungal Infections in Egyptian Patients with Hematological Malignancies.

The incidence of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) has increased owing to the rising number of immunodeficient patients. A case-control study was performed at the Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt. The case group (n = 80) included 80 patients diagnosed with hematological malignancies, and the control group (n = 20) included 20 patients. All patients were tested for the presence of fungal species using blood culture and panfungal real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Fungal species differentiation was performed using high-resolution melting (HRM) PCR. There were 39 suspected cases of IFIs among the 80 patients. The panfungal RT-PCR detection rate was 51.3% (41/80). HRM-PCR identified that 51.2% of the fungal species were Candida albicans, 44.0% were non-Candida albicans, and 4.9% were Mucor. The blood cultures were positive for the presence of fungi in two patients with acute myeloid leukemia. The fungal detection rate using the panfungal RT-PCR technique was significantly higher than that using the blood culture technique (P < 0.001). RT-PCR using panfungal markers is sensitive, rapid, and superior to the blood culture technique to detect IFIs. HRM-PCR is a specific test for species identification.

SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity rate and seroprevalence of related antibodies among a sample of patients in Cairo: Pre-wave 2 results of a screening program in a university hospital.

BACKGROUND: Research has revealed that asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic infections are important contributors to the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in populations. In Egypt, the true prevalence of infections is veiled due to the low number of screening tests. The aim of this study was to determine the SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity rate as well the seroprevalence of the SARS-CoV-2 antibodies before the ultimate development of a second wave of the epidemic in Cairo, Egypt. METHODS: Our study was carried out between May 5 and the end of October 2020. It included all patients requiring admission to Ain Shams University hospitals. An interview questionnaire was used to collect demographic and clinical data. Laboratory tests for all participants included RT-PCR and total antibody assay for SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS: A total of 4,313 subjects were enrolled in our study, with females representing 56% of the sample. Adults and middle-aged individuals represented around 60% of the study sample. The positivity rate of SARS-CoV-2 PCR was 3.84% (95% CI 3.29-4.48), and the SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence was 29.82% (95% CI: 28.16-31.51). Males showed a higher risk for getting the COVID-19 infection, while middle-age group had significantly higher antibody seroprevalence rates. CONCLUSION: SARS-CoV-2 infection imposes a high burden on the community as detected by high seroprevalence rates.