Cost-effectiveness of detection of intestinal amebiasis by using serology and specific-amebic-antigen assays among persons with or without human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Abstract

Among 345 persons who underwent indirect hemagglutination (IHA) serological assays and assays of specific amebic antigens in their stool samples, 24 of 36 (66.7%) who were seropositive for Entamoeba histolytica had intestinal amebiasis as determined by antigen assays compared with 2 of 309 (0.2%) who were seronegative (odds ratio, 307; 95% confidence interval, 64.9 to 1,451). The estimated cost to detect a case of intestinal amebiasis by serology followed by antigen assays ($52) could be reduced by 74.3% and 69.9%, respectively, compared with the costs of the concurrent use of both assays ($202) and the antigen assays alone ($173). Our finding suggests that IHA assays followed by specific-amebic-antigen assays can be cost-effective in the diagnosis of intestinal amebiasis among persons with or without human immunodeficiency virus infection who are at risk for E. histolytica infection.

• Authors: Sui-Yuan Chang, Hsin-Yun Sun, Dar-Der Ji, Yi-Chun Lo, Cheng-Hsin Wu, Pei-Ying Wu, Wen-Chun Liu, Chien-Ching Hung, Shan-Chwen Chang
• Journal: Journal of clinical microbiology (J Clin Microbiol) Vol. 46 Issue 9 Pg. 3077-9 (Sep 2008) ISSN: 1098-660X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 18596142 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antigens, Protozoan

Topics

• AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections (diagnosis, economics)
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Animals
• Antigens, Protozoan (immunology)
• Cost-Benefit Analysis
• Costs and Cost Analysis
• Dysentery, Amebic (diagnosis, economics)
• Entamoeba histolytica (immunology)
• Hemagglutination Tests (economics)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Seroepidemiologic Studies
• Taiwan
• Young Adult