Tularemia other diagnostic findings
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Other diagnostic studies for tularemia include the examination of secretions, fluorescent antibody testing, and immunohistochemical staining. These test demonstrate rapid procedures that provide accurate detection of F. tularensis within a few hours of specimen collection.
Other Diagnostic Findings
- Rapid diagnostic testing for tularemia is not widely available. Physicians who suspect inhalation-induced tularemia in patients presenting with atypical pneumonia, pleuritis, and hilar lymphadenopathy should promptly collect specimens of respiratory secretions and blood and alert the laboratory to the need for special diagnostic and safety procedures. [1]
- F. tularensis may be identified through direct examination of secretions, exudates, fluorescent antibody, or immunohistochemical stains. Microscopic demonstration of F. tularensis using fluorescent-labeled antibodies is a rapid diagnostic procedure performed in designated reference laboratories in the National Public Health Laboratory Network; test results can be available within several hours of receiving the specimens, if the laboratory is alerted and prepared. [1]
- Growth of F. tularensis in culture is the definitive means of confirming the diagnosis of tularemia. It can be grown from pharyngeal washings, sputum specimens, and even fasting gastric aspirates in a high proportion of patients with inhalation-based tularemia. It is only occasionally isolated from blood.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Protocol for the Presumptive Identification of Francisella tularensis. https://www.ok.gov/health2/documents/Francisella_tularensis%202-15-13.pdf Accessed March 8, 2016.