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False positive widal reaction in high-titer disseminated BCG infection

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Abstract

False-positive Widal reactions following certain non-typhoidSalmonella infections may occur commonly. The case of a patient who developed miliary tuberculosis secondary to intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) immunotherapy for bladder carcinoma is described. Very high titers of typhoid and paratyphoid agglutinins were obtained with the Widal test; these titers returned to normal after successful anti-tuberculous treatment. This case of high-titer, false-positiveSalmonella typhi andSalmonella paratyphi A and B reactions to BCG infection occurred in an area non-endemic for typhoid or paratyphoid fever.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital, Box 1045, 26 500, Patras, Greece

    A. Skoutelis & H. Bassaris

  2. Department of Microbiology, Patras University Medical School, University Hospital, Box 1045, 26 500, Patras, Greece

    G. Dimitrakopoulos

Authors
  1. A. Skoutelis
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  2. G. Dimitrakopoulos
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  3. H. Bassaris
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Skoutelis, A., Dimitrakopoulos, G. & Bassaris, H. False positive widal reaction in high-titer disseminated BCG infection. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 13, 261–263 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01974548

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01974548

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