Relevance of the positron emission tomography in the diagnosis of vascular graft infection with Coxiella burnetii.

Abstract

Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever, may cause culture-negative vascular graft infections that can be diagnosed by serology and molecular biology. We present a case of vascular graft infection detected by positron emission tomography (PET) scanner. The presence of C. burnetii was confirmed by high antibody titers and positive polymerase chain reaction specific for C. burnetii. This report emphasizes the relevance of the PET scanner in the diagnosis of infection when used in association with Q fever serology and molecular biology for the etiological identification of C. burnetii.

• Authors: Vicky Merhej, Serge Cammilleri, Philippe Piquet, Jean-Paul Casalta, Didier Raoult
• Journal: Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases (Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis) Vol. 35 Issue 1 Pg. 45-9 (Jan 2012) ISSN: 1878-1667 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22033287 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Bacterial
• RNA, Bacterial
• RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

Topics

• Aged
• Antibodies, Bacterial (blood, immunology)
• Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal (pathology, surgery)
• Bacterial Typing Techniques
• Coxiella burnetii (genetics, immunology)
• Humans
• Male
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Positron-Emission Tomography
• Prosthesis-Related Infections (diagnostic imaging, immunology, microbiology)
• Q Fever (diagnostic imaging, immunology, microbiology)
• RNA, Bacterial (analysis)
• RNA, Ribosomal, 16S (analysis)
• Vascular Grafting