Case-by-Case Demographics for Fungal Pathogen Detection in The Gambia

Zackary Salem-Bango's dataset contains demographic and clinical data from a study of fungal pathogens in patients with tuberculosis-like symptoms in The Gambia. The dataset likely includes case-level information for 273 sputum samples analyzed using a multiplex qPCR assay, with results for Aspergillus spp., Histoplasma spp., and Pneumocystis jirovecii. It was last updated on figshare in April 2026.

Use Cases

• Analyzing associations between patient demographics and fungal pathogen detection based on case-level data.
• Evaluating the performance of multiplex molecular assays in resource-limited clinical settings.
• Studying the prevalence of WHO-priority fungal pathogens among patients presenting with tuberculosis-like symptoms.
• Developing predictive models for fungal infection risk based on reported symptoms like cough and weight loss.

Strengths

• Dataset is based on a validated multiplex qPCR assay with high sensitivity and specificity, detecting as few as ten DNA copies per reaction.
• Includes results from 273 sputum samples collected from adult patients in The Gambia.
• Provides specific detection rates: Aspergillus DNA in 5 samples (1.8%) and Pneumocystis jirovecii DNA in 3 samples (1.1%).

Limitations

• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The dataset is very small (5.5 KB), indicating limited scope.

Provenance

Source

Zackary Salem-Bango

Collection Method

Multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay applied to stored sputum samples.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-24 17:45:16; freshness should be verified.

Geography

The Gambia