TABLE 4.
PCR quantification, decision to treat, clinical outcome, and underlying risk factors according to the results of IFA in patients with positive PCR but negative direct examination (n = 119)
| Characteristic | IFAa ambiguous (n = 16) | IFA negative (n = 103) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| qPCR result (mean ± SEM) (CT) | 33.7 ± 0.9 | 35.2 ± 0.3 | 0.075 (NSb) |
| Treatment (n [%]) | 14 (87) | 58 (56) | 0.025c |
| Mortality (n [%]) | 1 (6) | 34 (33) | 0.037c |
| Risk factor [n (no. fatal cases)] | |||
| HIV | 2 (0) | 3 (0) | 0.133 (NS) |
| Hematological malignancy | 4 (0) | 30 (11) | 1 (NS) |
| Corticosteroids | 5 (0) | 31 (11) | 1 (NS) |
| Cancer | 3 (1) | 21 (10) | 1 (NS) |
| Transplantation | 2 (0) | 10 (2) | 0.664 (NS) |
| Other | 0 | 8 (0) | 0.596 (NS) |
a
IFA, immunofluorescence assay.
b
NS, not significant.
c
P < 0.05.