Monika Cvancigerová, Katarína Ištvanková, Peter Kunč, Peter Ferenc, Tomáš Strachan, Jaroslav Fábry
Methods of molecular biology are currently used in a wide range of clinical and other laboratories. In microbiology it is
no exception. In molecular microbiology, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and its applications can be a great aid in
detecting pathogens, especially those that are non-culturable or those which are difficult to culture. One of the non-culturable
pathogens detected in our department is the Pneumocystis jirovecii, which causes pneumocystis pneumonia.
Basic symptoms include high respiratory rate, pulmonary emphysema, lung infiltration and cyanosis. These symptoms
are observed, among other patients, in premature infants and malnourished infants. PCR, when detecting this pathogen,
appears to be the best option when compared to histological or microscopic examination because of its speed,
sensitivity, specificity, low demand for transportation and storage conditions of biological material and last but not least,
increasing financial en_availability.