Raoult reported criteria for the diagnosis of Q fever vascular infection. The author is for Aix Marseille Universite.
Definitive criteria:
(1) positive culture of an arterial sample (aneurysm, prosthesis), periarterial abscess or a spondylodiscitis linked to the aorta
(2) positive PCR of an arterial sample (aneurysm, prosthesis), periarterial abscess or a spondylodiscitis linked to the aorta
(3) positive immunohistochemistry of an arterial sample (aneurysm, prosthesis), periarterial abscess or a spondylodiscitis linked to the aorta
Major criteria:
(1) microbiology evidence: positive culture of blood or embolus; positive PCR of blood or embolus; anti phase I IgG antibody titer >= 6400
(2) evidence of vascular involvement (see below)
Evidence of vascular involvement:
(1) CT scan showing (aneurysm or vascular abscess) AND (periarterial abscess, fistula or spondylodiscitis)
(2) PET scan showing specific fixation on aneurysm or vascular prosthesis
Minor criteria:
(1) emboli
(2) fever (temperature > 38°C)
(3) underlying vascular predisposition (aneurysm, vascular prosthesis)
(4) anti phase I IgG antibody titer >= 800 and < 6400
|
Definitive
|
Major
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Minor
|
Interpretation
|
|
>= 1
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NA
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NA
|
definite
|
|
0
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2
|
NA
|
definite
|
|
0
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1 (microbiology)
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2 (including vascular predisposition)
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definite
|
|
0
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0
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>= 3 (including predisposing vascular predisposition and serology)
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possible
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