Microbiological diagnosis of pleural infections: a comparative evaluation of a novel syndromic real-time PCR panel

Autor: Øyvind Kommedal, Tomas Mikal Eagan, Øystein Fløtten, Truls Michael Leegaard, William Siljan, Hilde Fardal, Bjørnar Bø, Fredrik Grøvan, Kjersti Wik Larssen, Arne Kildahl-Andersen, Reidar Hjetland, Rune Tilseth, Sølvi Kristine Øyen Hareide, Marit Tellevik, Ruben Dyrhovden
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: Microbiology Spectrum, Vol 12, Iss 6 (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2165-0497
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03510-23
Popis: ABSTRACT Current microbial diagnostics for pleural infections are insufficient. Studies using 16S targeted next-generation sequencing report that only 10%–16% of bacteria present are cultured and that 50%–78% of pleural fluids containing relevant microbial DNA remain culture negative. As a rapid diagnostic alternative suitable for clinical laboratories, we wanted to explore a PCR-based approach. Based on the identification of key pathogens, we developed a syndromic PCR panel for community-acquired pleural infections (CAPIs). This was a pragmatic PCR panel, meaning that it was not designed for detecting all possibly involved bacterial species but for confirming the diagnosis of CAPI, and for detecting bacteria that might influence choice of antimicrobial treatment. We evaluated the PCR panel on 109 confirmed CAPIs previously characterized using culture and 16S targeted next-generation sequencing. The PCR secured the diagnosis of CAPI in 107/109 (98.2%) and detected all present pathogens in 69/109 (63.3%). Culture secured the diagnosis in 54/109 (49.5%) and detected all pathogens in 31/109 (28.4%). Corresponding results for 16S targeted next-generation sequencing were 109/109 (100%) and 98/109 (89.9%). For bacterial species included in the PCR panel, PCR had a sensitivity of 99.5% (184/185), culture of 21.6% (40/185), and 16S targeted next-generation sequencing of 92.4% (171/185). None of the bacterial species present not covered by the PCR panel were judged to impact antimicrobial therapy. A syndromic PCR panel represents a rapid and sensitive alternative to current diagnostic approaches for the microbiological diagnosis of CAPI.IMPORTANCEPleural empyema is a severe infection with high mortality and increasing incidence. Long hospital admissions and long courses of antimicrobial treatment drive healthcare and ecological costs. Current methods for microbiological diagnostics of pleural infections are inadequate. Recent studies using 16S targeted next-generation sequencing as a reference standard find culture to recover only 10%–16% of bacteria present and that 50%–78% of samples containing relevant bacterial DNA remain culture negative. To confirm the diagnosis of pleural infection and define optimal antimicrobial therapy while limiting unnecessary use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, there is a need for rapid and sensitive diagnostic approaches. PCR is a rapid method well suited for clinical laboratories. In this paper we show that a novel syndromic PCR panel can secure the diagnosis of pleural infection and detect all bacteria relevant for choice of antimicrobial treatment with a high sensitivity.
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