Elucidating Infectious Causes of Fever of Unknown Origin: A Laboratory-Based Observational Study of Patients with Suspected Ebola Virus Disease, Guinea, 2014
These videos have been matched automatically. Contact us if they are not relevant.
These videos have been matched automatically. Contact us if they are not relevant.
View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.In sub-Saharan Africa, infectious causes for fever of unknown origin (FUO) were identified in over half of patients. Malaria and bacterial infections were common, highlighting the need for improved laboratory diagnostics in the region.
Area Of Science
- Infectious Diseases
- Molecular Diagnostics
- Public Health in Sub-Saharan Africa
Background
- The causes of fever of unknown origin (FUO) in sub-Saharan Africa frequently remain undiagnosed.
- Etiological investigations are crucial for effective patient management and public health strategies in the region.
Purpose Of The Study
- To investigate the infectious etiologies of FUO in Guinean patients negative for Ebola virus.
- To assess the utility of advanced molecular diagnostic techniques for identifying pathogens in FUO cases.
Main Methods
- Retrospective laboratory-based observational study of 550 Guinean patients with FUO.
- Pathogen detection using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), serologic tests, and high-throughput sequencing (HTS).
- Analysis of blood-borne pathogens, bacterial infections, and viral etiologies.
Main Results
- Infectious agents were identified in 275 of 550 patients (50%).
- Plasmodium (35.6%), pathogenic bacteria (18.4%), and various viruses (5.8%) were detected.
- Coinfections, primarily malaria with sepsis-causing bacteria, were observed in 1 in 5 infected patients.
Conclusions
- Comprehensive laboratory investigations identified infectious causes in 52.3% of FUO cases.
- Strengthening laboratory capacity and quality control is vital for patient care and outbreak response in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Regionally appropriate diagnostic tools are essential for managing FUO effectively.
These videos have been matched automatically. Contact us if they are not relevant.
These videos have been matched automatically. Contact us if they are not relevant.
Related Concept Videos
Overview
The ability of a single antibody to recognize multiple structurally similar epitopes is an important immune defense strategy that enables the host to efficiently defend against many potentially threatening pathogens. However, cross-reactivity also elicits allergy symptoms against related allergens. It is increasingly important to understand the principles of cross-reactivity, as antibodies are actively being developed as therapeutic modalities for diverse diseases, including cancer.
A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases of DNA or RNA in a genome. Some mutations occur during replication of the genome due to errors made by the polymerase enzymes that replicate DNA or RNA. Unlike DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase is prone to errors because it is not capable of “proofreading” its work. Viruses with RNA-based genomes, like HIV, therefore accrue mutations faster than viruses with DNA-based genomes. Because mutation and recombination provide the raw material...
Before understanding the types and patterns of fever, it is essential to know its phases.
• The first stage is the onset/invasion phase, during which the body temperature rises. It might be a sudden or gradual process.
• The second stage is the steady phase, during which the body temperature has reached its maximum and remains constant at a high level.
• The third stage is the defervescence or decline phase, during which the elevated temperature returns to...
Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.
Viral Recombination Can Create New Diseases
Some diseases can infect multiple species. For example, pigs can be infected by some human and...