Detection of Adenovirus in Urine of Immunocompromised Patients by Polymerase Chain Reaction

Adenovirus (AdV) has been increasingly shown to play a role in the morbidity and mortality of immunosuppressed patients. This work aimed to detect AdV in urine samples of immunocompromised patients of both pediatric and adult oncology units and study some factors that may associate with increased risk of AdV infections and subsequent detection in urine samples. This study was conducted from December 2009 to December 2010 in Medical Microbiology and Immunology Department Faculty of Medicine Zagazig University. Urine samples were collected from 100 patients in oncology wards of both Pediatric and Internal Medicine Departments (50 from each department) in Zagazig University Hospitals. Each sample was subjected to PCR detection of AdV. The characteristics of pediatric and adult immunocompromised patients in whom AdV was detected in urine were compared. Twenty (20%) out of 100 urine samples were positive for AdV by PCR, 15 (30%) out of 50 pediatric and 5 (10%) out of 50 adult immunocompromised patients. The difference was statistically significant (P=0.01). Pediatric patients diagnosed as cases of leukemia were significantly associated with AdV detection in urine (P=0.01).The use of immunosuppressive therapy is significantly associated with AdV detection in urine in both pediatric and adult patients (P=0.02 and 0.05 respectively). In conclusion Adenovirus infection is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients, particularly who are receiving immunosuppressive therapy. The need for rapid method of diagnosis and an effective, nontoxic antiviral therapy is apparent.