The diagnosis of central nervous system infections in resource-limited settings and the use of novel and molecular diagnostic platforms to improve diagnosis.
James Milburn, Rachita Suresh, Ronan Doyle, Joseph N Jarvis
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: Central nervous system infections (CNSI) disproportionately affect individuals in low-resource settings where diagnosis is challenging; large proportions of patients never receive a confirmed microbiological diagnosis resulting in inadequate management and high mortality. The epidemiology of CNSI varies globally and conventional diagnostics deployed in resource-limited settings have significant limitations, with an urgent need for improved diagnostic strategies.
Areas covered: This review describes molecular platforms and other novel diagnostics used in the diagnosis of CNSI that are applicable to resource-limited settings. An extensive literature search of Medline and PubMed was performed. The emphasis is on investigations targeting infections of relevance to resource-limited settings either due to variation in regional CNSI epidemiology or due to increased prevalence in patients with immunosuppression. This includes commercially available multiplex PCR platforms, mycobacterial PCR platforms, and rapid diagnostics tests. To offer a framework for the optimal implementation in clinical settings, existing evidence highlighting the advantages and limitations of available platforms is reviewed.
Expert opinion: The implementation of molecular platforms and other novel diagnostics has the potential to transform CNSI diagnosis in resource-limited settings, with several examples of successful rollout of novel diagnostics such as Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra and cryptococcal antigen testing.
期刊介绍:
Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics (ISSN 1473-7159) publishes expert reviews of the latest advancements in the field of molecular diagnostics including the detection and monitoring of the molecular causes of disease that are being translated into groundbreaking diagnostic and prognostic technologies to be used in the clinical diagnostic setting.
Each issue of Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics contains leading reviews on current and emerging topics relating to molecular diagnostics, subject to a rigorous peer review process; editorials discussing contentious issues in the field; diagnostic profiles featuring independent, expert evaluations of diagnostic tests; meeting reports of recent molecular diagnostics conferences and key paper evaluations featuring assessments of significant, recently published articles from specialists in molecular diagnostic therapy.
Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics provides the forum for reporting the critical advances being made in this ever-expanding field, as well as the major challenges ahead in their clinical implementation. The journal delivers this information in concise, at-a-glance article formats: invaluable to a time-constrained community.