Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2026
Microbiological Rapid On-Site Evaluation for Pulmonary Infectious Diseases
Published on: March 1, 2024
Cytological diagnosis of Penicillium marneffei infection
I-Shiow Jan1, Ping-Fung Chung, Jann-Yuan Wang
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, Taiwan.
Background/Purpose:
Penicillium marneffei is an emerging opportunistic pathogen. The goal of this study was to study its clinical and radiographic presentation, and the diagnostic value of a cytological study of penicilliosis.
Methods:
A total of 24 patients with penicilliosis were found by culture in an 8-year period. Thirteen patients had cytological examination, which were retrospectively reviewed to analyze the morphological characteristics of P. marneffei and diagnostic yields of different cytological specimens.
Results:
Twenty (83%) of the 24 patients (20 males) had human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. In eight (40%) patients, penicilliosis was the initial manifestation of HIV infection. Penicilliosis was diagnosed in all patients antemortem from culture of blood or other body sites. One (4%) died. Six of 13 patients who had cytological study had intra- or extracellular yeast-like organisms with transverse septum found in fine needle aspirate, imprint or sputum cytology studies. The cytological diagnostic yields for P. marneffei from lung biopsy imprint smears, lung aspirates, neck lymph node aspirates and sputum were 2/2, 2/4, 2/2 and 2/4, respectively. The cytological diagnosis could be made immediately after aspiration, much quicker than diagnosis from cultures.
Conclusion:
P. marneffei causes disseminated infection, and can be the initial manifestation in HIV-infected patients in Taiwan. Penicilliosis can be diagnosed rapidly with cytological study of lung biopsy imprint smears, lung aspirates, neck lymph node aspirates or sputum.
Insights
Penicillium marneffei causes disseminated infections, often presenting as an initial sign of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Rapid diagnosis of penicilliosis is achievable through cytological examination of various specimens.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Cytopathology
Background:
- Penicillium marneffei is an emerging opportunistic fungal pathogen.
- Penicilliosis is increasingly recognized, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical and radiographic features of penicilliosis.
- To evaluate the diagnostic utility of cytological studies for Penicillium marneffei.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 24 patients diagnosed with penicilliosis via culture over 8 years.
- Review of cytological specimens from 13 patients to assess P. marneffei morphology and diagnostic yield.
Main Results:
- 83% of patients had concurrent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection; 40% presented with penicilliosis as the initial HIV manifestation.
- Cytological examination identified P. marneffei in 6 of 13 patients, with high diagnostic yields from lung biopsy imprints and neck lymph node aspirates.
- Cytological diagnosis offered a significantly faster turnaround time compared to culture-based methods.
Conclusions:
- Penicillium marneffei causes disseminated infections and can be the primary indicator of HIV in endemic regions.
- Cytological analysis of fine needle aspirates, sputum, and biopsy imprints provides a rapid and effective method for diagnosing penicilliosis.
