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Artifacts and organism mimickers in pathology: case examples and review of literature

Saeeda Almarzooqi1, Amy Leber, Samir Kahwash

  • 1Department of Pathology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.

Advances in Anatomic Pathology
|June 25, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Microscopic artifacts and mimickers can be mistaken for infectious organisms, leading to misdiagnosis. This article highlights common examples to improve diagnostic accuracy in pathology and microbiology.

Area of Science:

  • Pathology
  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Morphologic recognition of organisms is crucial for diagnosing infectious processes.
  • Artifacts and mimickers can complicate identification, leading to diagnostic challenges.
  • Despite frequent encounters, literature on this topic is surprisingly limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present examples of artifacts and mimickers that simulate infectious organisms.
  • To raise awareness of potential diagnostic pitfalls in pathology and microbiology.
  • To address the dearth of published literature on this practical issue.

Main Methods:

  • Review of common artifacts and mimickers encountered in daily practice.
  • Morphological comparison of artifacts with actual infectious agents.
  • Literature review on the prevalence and impact of diagnostic errors due to mimickers.

Main Results:

  • Fibrin, collagen fibers, and bacteria can mimic fungal hyphae.
  • Altered bacteria and Russel bodies may resemble fungal yeasts.
  • Numerous examples of artifacts simulating infectious organisms are provided.

Conclusions:

  • Accurate morphologic recognition is essential to avoid misdiagnosis.
  • Awareness of artifacts and mimickers can prevent wasted time and resources.
  • Further research and publication are needed to address this common diagnostic challenge.

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