Document 0116
 DOCN  M9580116
 TI    Evaluation of the optimal number of faecal specimens in the diagnosis of
       cryptosporidiosis in AIDS and immunocompetent patients.
 DT    9506
 AU    Clavel A; Arnal AC; Sanchez EC; Varea M; Castillo FJ; Ramirez de Ocariz
       I; Quilez J; Cuesta J; Servicio de Microbiologia y Parasitologia,
       Hospital Clinico; Universitario, Zaragoza, Spain.
 SO    Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 1995 Jan;14(1):46-9. Unique Identifier
       : AIDSLINE MED/95246772
 AB    This study determines the optimal number of faecal samples that should
       be examined in order to minimize the occurrence of false-negative
       results in the diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis using routine techniques.
       A total of 23,023 faecal samples from 10,870 patients submitted for
       parasitological examination were processed by the formalin-ethyl acetate
       concentration technique and stained using a modified Ziehl-Neelsen
       method. Cryptosporidiosis was diagnosed in 232 patients (2.13%), 44 of
       whom were infected by HIV, the prevalence rate in this population group
       being 15.54%. The increase in the number of diagnoses obtained by the
       examination of n and (n-1) specimens was evaluated statistically. This
       study found that three is the optimal number of faecal samples that
       should be examined when cryptosporidiosis is suspected in
       immunocompetent patients; whereas, only two samples are required for
       diagnosing this protozoosis in AIDS patients.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/COMPLICATIONS/*PARASITOLOGY  Animal
       Cryptosporidiosis/COMPLICATIONS/*DIAGNOSIS  Cryptosporidium/*ISOLATION &
       PURIF  False Negative Reactions  Feces/*PARASITOLOGY  Human
       *Immunocompromised Host  Opportunistic Infections/*PARASITOLOGY
       Parasite Egg Count  Sensitivity and Specificity  JOURNAL ARTICLE

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