Medical Microbiology

Table 1 2. 2 Continued:LowerRespiratoryTract

Infection Mostimportant

pathogens

Laboratorydiagnosis

Pneumocystiscarinii

(Pneumocystiscarinii

pneumonia(PCP)frequent

inAIDSpatients)

Pathogendetectionin

“induced”sputumor

bronchiallavagebymeansof

microscopy,immunofluores-

cenceorDNAanalysis

Protozoa Microspora AsforP.carinii,DNAdetection

(PCR)

Toxoplasmagondii Serology

Helminths Echinococcusspp. Serology

Schistosomaspp. Serology;wormeggsinstool

Toxocaracanis(larvae) Serology

Ascarislumbricoides(larvae) Serology(specificIgE)

(wormeggsinstool)

Paragonimusspp. Wormeggsinstooland

sputum;serology

SARS(SevereAcute

RespiratorySyndrome)

SARSCoronaVirus ReversetranscriptasePCR

(RT-PCR)inrespiratorytract

specimens(swabs,lavage

etc.).

Serology(EIA).

Empyema Streptococcuspneumoniae

Staphylococcusaureus

Streptococcuspyogenes

Numerousotherbacteriaare

potentialpathogens

Microscopyandculturefrom

pleuralpusspecimen

Pulmonaryabscess

Necrotizingpneumonia

Usuallyendogenous

infectionswithGram-

negative/Gram-positive

mixedanaerobicflora

Aerobesalsopossible

Microscopyandculturefrom

transtrachealorbronchial

aspirate,bronchoalveolar

lavageorlungbiopsy.

Transportinmediumfor

anaerobes

Candidaspp.

Aspergillusspp.

Mucorales

Microscopyandculture,

serologyaswellifrequired

634 12 EtiologicalandLaboratoryDiagnosticSummariesinTabularForm

12

Kayser, Medical Microbiology © 2005 Thieme