Monitoring of adenovirus load in stool by real-time PCR permits early detection of impending invasive infection in patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation

Invasive adenovirus (AdV) infections are associated with high morbidity and mortality in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients. We observed that molecular detection of the virus in stool specimens commonly precedes AdV viremia, suggesting that intestinal infections may represent a common source of virus dissemination. To address this notion, we have investigated 153 consecutive allogeneic transplantations in 138 pediatric patients by quantitative monitoring of AdV in stool specimens and peripheral blood by a pan-adenovirus real-time (RQ)-PCR approach. AdV was detectable in serial stool specimens in all cases of AdV viremia during the post-transplant course (P<0.0001). The incidence of AdV viremia in individuals with peak virus levels in stool specimens above 1 × 10E6 copies per gram (n=22) was 73% vs 0% in patients with AdV levels in stool specimens below this threshold (n=29; P<0.0001). Serial measurement of AdV levels in stool specimens by RQ-PCR permitted early diagnosis of impending invasive infection with a sensitivity and specificity of 100% (95% confidence interval (CI) 96–100%) and 83% (95% CI 67–92%), respectively. The median time span between detection of AdV loads in stool specimens above 1 × 10E6 copies per gram and first observation of viremia was 11 days (range 0–192). Quantitative monitoring of the AdV load in stool specimens therefore provides a rationale for early initiation of antiviral treatment with the aim of preventing progression to life-threatening invasive infection.