2023
A Diagnostic Approach to Fungal Pneumonia An Infectious Diseases Perspective
Azar M. A Diagnostic Approach to Fungal Pneumonia An Infectious Diseases Perspective. CHEST Journal 2023, 165: 559-572. PMID: 37813181, DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2023.10.005.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsFungal pneumoniaAppropriate diagnostic testingClinical syndromeDiagnostic testingLower respiratory tract infectionsNon-resolving pneumoniaRespiratory tract infectionsInfectious diseases perspectiveTract infectionsRadiographic patternsCommon causeEpidemiologic exposuresCorrect diagnosisRisk populationsPneumoniaDiagnostic approachHost factorsDisease perspectiveConstellation of factorsPatientsSyndromeInfectionEpidemiologyIncidenceDiagnosis
2022
Laboratory Diagnosis for SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Christensen BB, Azar MM, Turbett SE. Laboratory Diagnosis for SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Infectious Disease Clinics Of North America 2022, 36: 327-347. PMID: 35636903, PMCID: PMC9141924, DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2022.02.002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSARS-CoV-2 infectionClinical syndromeMolecular testingPatient's clinical syndromeReverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reactionOptimal diagnostic testCOVID-19 infectionSymptom onsetAcute infectionAntigen testingSerologic testingAcute diagnosisPolymerase chain reactionLaboratory diagnosisDiagnostic testsInfectionChain reactionDiagnosisSyndromeTesting
2021
Recurrent Hematochezia in a Returning Traveler
Gleeson SE, Zhang X, Azar MM. Recurrent Hematochezia in a Returning Traveler. JAMA 2021, 325: 1558-1559. PMID: 33666646, DOI: 10.1001/jama.2021.0368.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2020
Added Diagnostic Utility of Clinical Metagenomics for the Diagnosis of Pneumonia in Immunocompromised Adults
Azar MM, Schlaberg R, Malinis MF, Bermejo S, Schwarz T, Xie H, Dela Cruz CS. Added Diagnostic Utility of Clinical Metagenomics for the Diagnosis of Pneumonia in Immunocompromised Adults. CHEST Journal 2020, 159: 1356-1371. PMID: 33217418, DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2020.11.008.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFinal clinical diagnosisDiagnostic yieldFungal pneumoniaImmunocompromised adultsMicrobiologic diagnosisAntimicrobial stewardshipMicrobiologic testingClinical diagnosisClinical metagenomicsCommunity-acquired pneumoniaStandard of careDiagnosis of pneumoniaAdult patientsRadiologic findingsBacterial pneumoniaBAL fluidProspective studyViral pneumoniaBacterial causePneumoniaDiagnostic utilityStudy designDiagnosisAdultsHypothetical impactDiagnosis of oesophageal mucormycosis managed with medical therapy alone
Ringer M, Pischel L, Azar MM. Diagnosis of oesophageal mucormycosis managed with medical therapy alone. BMJ Case Reports 2020, 13: e236869. PMID: 33093060, PMCID: PMC7583061, DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2020-236869.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIdarubicin/cytarabineLiposomal amphotericin BAcute myeloid leukemiaFebrile neutropeniaInduction chemotherapyPosaconazole therapyClinical characteristicsMedical therapySurgical morbiditySurgical interventionAggressive infectionDevastating manifestationMyeloid leukemiaCT scanInvasive moldsMucormycosisLebanese menAmphotericin BPatientsDiagnosisTherapyReportOdynophagiaNeutropeniaThrombocytopeniaEndemic Fungi Presenting as Community-Acquired Pneumonia: A Review
Azar MM, Malo J, Hage CA. Endemic Fungi Presenting as Community-Acquired Pneumonia: A Review. Seminars In Respiratory And Critical Care Medicine 2020, 41: 522-537. PMID: 32629490, DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1702194.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCommunity-acquired pneumoniaCommon bacterial causeAreas of endemicityDimorphic fungal infectionsRespiratory manifestationsClinical presentationPulmonary histoplasmosisTreatment strategiesDiagnostic modalitiesBacterial causeEndemic areasFungal infectionsPneumoniaHistoplasma capsulatumHistoplasmosisCoccidioides posadasiiBlastomycosisCoccidioidomycosisEpidemiologyDimorphic fungusPresentingReviewPathogenesisInfectionDiagnosisDiagnosing peritoneal tuberculosis
Koff A, Azar MM. Diagnosing peritoneal tuberculosis. BMJ Case Reports 2020, 13: e233131. PMID: 32033999, PMCID: PMC7035809, DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2019-233131.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPeritoneal tuberculosisEmpiric anti-tuberculous therapyPositive QuantiFERON-TB GoldAnti-tuberculous therapyPresence of ascitesQuantiFERON-TB GoldWorse clinical outcomesLow-incidence regionsAscitic adenosine deaminaseInflammatory ascitesPeritoneal thickeningAbdominal painDecompensated cirrhosisLiver transplantationExtrapulmonary tuberculosisRadiographic responseAntibiotic therapyClinical outcomesTuberculosisIncidence regionDiagnosisMycobacterial testingItalian malesAdenosine deaminaseCirrhosisGomori Methenamine Silver Stain on Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Is Poorly Sensitive for Diagnosis of Pneumocystis jiroveci Pneumonia in HIV-Negative Immunocompromised Patients and May Lead to Missed or Delayed Diagnoses
Azar MM, Slotkin R, Abi-Raad R, Liu Y, Grant MH, Malinis MF. Gomori Methenamine Silver Stain on Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Is Poorly Sensitive for Diagnosis of Pneumocystis jiroveci Pneumonia in HIV-Negative Immunocompromised Patients and May Lead to Missed or Delayed Diagnoses. Archives Of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine 2020, 144: 1003-1010. PMID: 31904277, DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2019-0394-oa.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHIV-negative immunocompromised patientsBronchoalveolar lavage fluidDiagnosis of PJPHIV-positive patientsImmunocompromised patientsLavage fluidGomori methenamine silver stainingPneumocystis jiroveci pneumoniaHIV-positive casesHuman immunodeficiency virusGomori methenamine silver stainMethenamine silver stainingMethenamine silver stainJiroveci pneumoniaBAL fluidHistorical gold standardRetrospective reviewImmunodeficiency virusPatientsLow burdenDiagnosisGMS stainGold standardPJPPneumonia
2017
Clinical and epidemiological characterization of histoplasmosis cases in a nonendemic area, Connecticut, United States
Azar MM, Zhang X, Assi R, Hage C, Wheat LJ, Malinis MF. Clinical and epidemiological characterization of histoplasmosis cases in a nonendemic area, Connecticut, United States. Medical Mycology 2017, 56: 896-899. PMID: 29228334, DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myx120.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHuman immunodeficiency virusHistoplasmosis casesEpidemiology of histoplasmosisNon-endemic areasSymptom onsetAntigen testingMedian timeImmunodeficiency virusActive histoplasmosisNonendemic areasRetrospective analysisEndemic areasEpidemiological characterizationHistoplasmosisNew HavenDaysPatientsEpidemiologyDiagnosisCasesClinical Perspectives in the Diagnosis and Management of Histoplasmosis
Azar MM, Hage CA. Clinical Perspectives in the Diagnosis and Management of Histoplasmosis. Clinics In Chest Medicine 2017, 38: 403-415. PMID: 28797485, DOI: 10.1016/j.ccm.2017.04.004.BooksConceptsAcute pulmonary histoplasmosisDrug of choiceManagement of histoplasmosisDisseminated presentationPulmonary histoplasmosisMild diseaseClinical spectrumDimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatumHistoplasmosisAmphotericin BFungus Histoplasma capsulatumClinical perspectiveDiseaseHistoplasma capsulatumMultipronged approachNumber of travelersDiagnosisPatientsTherapyItraconazoleSeverity
2016
Disseminated Histoplasmosis with Skin Lesions and Osteomyelitis in a Patient from the Philippines.
Azar MM, Malinis MF. Disseminated Histoplasmosis with Skin Lesions and Osteomyelitis in a Patient from the Philippines. American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 2016, 95: 70-4. PMID: 26976880, PMCID: PMC4944712, DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0063.Peer-Reviewed Case Reports and Technical NotesConceptsBone involvementDisseminated histoplasmosisFoot woundsPapular rashProtean manifestationsFinal diagnosisUnusual manifestationSkin lesionsDimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatumHistoplasmosisFungus Histoplasma capsulatumHistoplasma capsulatumDiseaseManifestationsRashOsteomyelitisPatientsLesionsDiagnosisHistoplasmosis
Wheat LJ, Azar MM, Bahr NC, Spec A, Relich RF, Hage C. Histoplasmosis. Infectious Disease Clinics Of North America 2016, 30: 207-227. PMID: 26897068, DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2015.10.009.Books