Biopsies may be from chronically infected tissues and so, in addition to investigation for bacterial infection, they will also require investigation for fungi, Mycobacterium species and parasites. Histological investigation will often inform the decision to investigate for particular classes of infection. For instance, the presence of caseating granulomata should raise the suspicion of tuberculous infection; similar appearances may be caused by deep fungal infection on occasion. Specific tissues Aortic aneurysm contents Aortic aneurysm contents may be sent for the exclusion of an infective cause1. Artificial materials Artificial materials may also be sent to the laboratory for investigation. Such materials include prosthetic cardiac valves, pacemakers, grafts, artificial joints and tissue implants. Brain biopsies Brain biopsies may sometimes be taken to differentiate non-infectious conditions from infection. Corneas Corneas should be examined in cases where deep eye infection is suspected. Donor heart valves or cornea rims Donor heart valves or cornea rims need to be screened for bacterial infection prior to implantation. Heart valves valves are submitted from patients with infective endocarditis undergoing valve replacement or at post mortem. Infected prosthetic valves may also be sent for culture. Where possible the results of these cultures should be correlated with blood cultures or serology. Lung biopsies (percutaneous, bronchoscopic, surgical or post mortem) 2 Lung biopsies are classified by the method of entry or the reason for biopsy. They may be useful for infections caused by bacteria including Actinomyces species, Norcardia species, Legionella species and Mycobacterium species and fungi, especially Aspergillus species, and Pneumocystis jirovecii. Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) occurs almost exclusively in patients who are immunocompromised. PCP may be diagnosed less invasively, but usually with reduced sensitivity, by processing induced sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage specimens. Lymph nodes
Biopsies may be from chronically infected tissues and so, in addition to investigation for bacterial infection, they will also require investigation for fungi, Mycobacterium species and parasites. Histological investigation will often inform the decision to investigate for particular classes of infection. For instance, the presence of caseating granulomata should raise the suspicion of tuberculous infection; similar appearances may be caused by deep fungal infection on occasion. Specific tissues Aortic aneurysm contents Aortic aneurysm contents may be sent for the exclusion of an infective cause1. Artificial materials Artificial materials may also be sent to the laboratory for investigation. Such materials include prosthetic cardiac valves, pacemakers, grafts, artificial joints and tissue implants. Brain biopsies Brain biopsies may sometimes be taken to differentiate non-infectious conditions from infection. Corneas Corneas should be examined in cases where deep eye infection is suspected. Donor heart valves or cornea rims Donor heart valves or cornea rims need to be screened for bacterial infection prior to implantation. Heart valves valves are submitted from patients with infective endocarditis undergoing valve replacement or at post mortem. Infected prosthetic valves may also be sent for culture. Where possible the results of these cultures should be correlated with blood cultures or serology. Lung biopsies (percutaneous, bronchoscopic, surgical or post mortem) 2 Lung biopsies are classified by the method of entry or the reason for biopsy. They may be useful for infections caused by bacteria including Actinomyces species, Norcardia species, Legionella species and Mycobacterium species and fungi, especially Aspergillus species, and Pneumocystis jirovecii. Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) occurs almost exclusively in patients who are immunocompromised. PCP may be diagnosed less invasively, but usually with reduced sensitivity, by processing induced sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage specimens. Lymph nodes
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