Polymerase Chain Reaction on Respiratory Tract Specimens of Immunocompromised Patients to Diagnose Pneumocystis Pneumonia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: This meta-analysis examines the comparative diagnostic performance of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the diagnosis of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) on different respiratory tract samples, in both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and non-HIV populations.

Methods: A total of 55 articles met inclusion criteria, including 11 434 PCR assays on respiratory specimens from 7835 patients at risk of PCP. QUADAS-2 tool indicated low risk of bias across all studies.

Sequence analysis of isolates of Aspergillus from patients with chronic and allergic aspergillosis reveals a spectrum of cryptic species.

Aim: To establish the prevalence and antifungal susceptibilities of Aspergillus cryptic species from respiratory samples. Methods: Retrospective susceptibility data on Aspergillus species cultured between 2015 and 2017 by 'high volume culture' (HVC) versus 'conventional' culture techniques.

Results: Fifty-six (2.