Emerging Role of Plasma Microbial Cell-free DNA in the Diagnosis of Pediatric Mucormycosis

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2024 Jul 1;43(7):704-707. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000004331. Epub 2024 Mar 18.

Abstract

Mucormycosis is a rare and devastating angioinvasive infection that can be challenging to diagnose due to the low sensitivity of current noninvasive diagnostics and the lack of a "gold standard" reference test. We describe a retrospective case series of children with suspected mucormycosis where plasma microbial cell-free DNA testing was utilized in the diagnostic evaluation to illustrate the ways in which microbial cell-free DNA testing can noninvasively contribute to the evaluation and management of at-risk, immunosuppressed patients suspected of mucormycosis.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Cell-Free Nucleic Acids* / blood
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • DNA, Fungal* / blood
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Mucormycosis* / blood
  • Mucormycosis* / diagnosis
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Cell-Free Nucleic Acids
  • DNA, Fungal