Enhanced detection rate of typhoid fever among clinically suspected patients in a tertiary referral hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh using nested polymerase chain reaction technology

This study was done during the period of March 2013 to February 2014. A total of 80 clinically suspected cases of typhoid fever were included in the study. Blood was collected from all participating individuals. Nested PCR targeting the flagellin gene (fliC) of Salmonella Typhi& blood culture were done for each of the cases. The positivity rate of PCR  & blood culture was 70%& 20% respectively. The positivity rate of PCR was significantly higher than  blood culture (P< 0.05). With the nested PCR, S. Typhi DNAs were detected from blood specimens of  67.2% (43/64) patients among the suspected typhoid fever cases on the basis of clinical features but with negative cultures. We conclude that the PCR technique could be used as a novel diagnostic method of typhoid fever, particularly in culture-negative cases in an endemic country like Banglades h.
Source: Bangladesh Medical Research Council Bulletin - Category: Global & Universal Source Type: research