Karius Test Application in Fever of Unknown Origin

This document is a case study that examines the application of the Karius Test (KT) in diagnosing Fever of Unknown Origin (FUO) in pediatric and adult patients. It presents findings from a single-center retrospective study involving 182 pediatric patients, where 66% had FUO, and KT positively impacted diagnosis in 32% of cases. The KT was the sole diagnostic tool providing results in 23% of instances, identifying pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pneumocystis jirovecii. Further, it details a case study from Mayo Clinic, highlighting a 32-year-old male with FUO, where KT identified C. burnetii, leading to a specific treatment regimen. Additionally, a retrospective study from Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center shows that KT changed antimicrobial management in 72% of cases with unclear etiology. The document emphasizes the significance of KT in enhancing diagnostic accuracy for FUO, particularly in cases where traditional methods yield inconclusive results.