Activities

Undertaking systematic reviews and meta-analysis of the literature for CR to evaluate the diagnostic value of fungal PCR for screening a confirming the diagnosis of aspergillosis, candidiasis, pneumocystosis, mucormycosis and tissue diagnosis. Two protocols have been submitted to PROSPERO, the international prospective register of systematic reviews:

a) Polymerase chain reaction for the diagnosis of invasive candidiasis using blood specimens {CRD42018088037} http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?ID=CRD42018088037

b) Polymerase chain reaction on respiratory tract specimens of immunocompromised patients to diagnose pneumocystosis. {CRD42018087812} http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?ID=CRD42018087812

In addition, two Cochrane systematic reviews are being undertaken:

a) an update of Polymerase chain reaction blood tests for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised people” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2015, Issue 10. Art. No.: CD009551.DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009551.pub3.

b) Polymerase chain reaction blood tests for the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in immunocompromised people using bronchoalveolar lavage specimens.

• Performing data analysis on the performance of Aspergillus PCR on blood samples from patients enrolled in the GILEAD GS-EU-131-0247: AmBiGuard Trial.
  
  
• Performing Aspergillus PCR testing on blood samples from patients enrolled in the EORTC randomized control trial of empirical versus a diagnostic driven therapy in haematology/allogeneic stem cell transplant patients (Protocol 65091-06093: Translational project #1 Aspergillus PCR testing).
  
  
• Finalizing the data analysis of evaluations of A.  fumigatus PCR in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.
  
  
• Quality assurance and control of A.  fumigatus PCR.
  
  
• Preparing an extensive review on the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis.
  
  
• Evaluating current PCR methodologies for Candida, in an attempt to determine analytical specificity.
  
  
• Performing data analysis on evaluations of current PCR methodologies for Pneumocystis, in an attempt to compare analytical sensitivity and specificity.
  
  
• Performing data analysis on evaluations of current PCR methodologies for mucorales, in an attempt to compare analytical sensitivity and specificity.
  
  
• Designing and optimizing protocols to evaluate PCR methodology for the detection of fungi in tissue samples.