BACKGROUND: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) has high morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, the pathogen detection rate using conventional culture methods is relatively low. We compared comprehensive real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) analysis of nasopharyngeal swab specimens (NPS) and sputum samples against conventional methods for ability to detect causative pathogens of CAP. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled adult CAP patients, including those with prior antibiotic use, from December 2012 to May 2014. For each patient, causative pathogens were investigated conventionally and by real-time PCR that can identify 6 bacterial and 11 viral pathogens. RESULTS: Patients numbered 92 (mean age, 63 years; 59 male), including 30 (33%) with prior antibiotic use. Considering all patients, identification of causative pathogens by real-time PCR was significantly more frequent than by conventional methods in all patients (72% vs. 57%, p = 0.018). In patients with prior antibiotic use, identification rates also differed significantly (PCR, 77%; conventional, 50%; p = 0.027). Mixed infections were more frequent according to real-time PCR than conventional methods (26% vs. 4%, p < 0.001). By the real-time PCR, Streptococcus pneumoniae was most frequently identified (38%) as a causative pathogen, followed by Haemophilus influenzae (37%) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (5%). PCR also identified viral pathogens (21%), with sensitivity enhanced by simultaneous examination of both NPS and sputum samples rather than only NPS samples. CONCLUSIONS: Real-time PCR of NPS and sputum samples could better identify bacterial and viral pathogens in CAP than conventional methods, both overall and in patients with prior antibiotic treatment.
BACKGROUND: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) has high morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, the pathogen detection rate using conventional culture methods is relatively low. We compared comprehensive real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) analysis of nasopharyngeal swab specimens (NPS) and sputum samples against conventional methods for ability to detect causative pathogens of CAP. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled adult CAP patients, including those with prior antibiotic use, from December 2012 to May 2014. For each patient, causative pathogens were investigated conventionally and by real-time PCR that can identify 6 bacterial and 11 viral pathogens. RESULTS:Patients numbered 92 (mean age, 63 years; 59 male), including 30 (33%) with prior antibiotic use. Considering all patients, identification of causative pathogens by real-time PCR was significantly more frequent than by conventional methods in all patients (72% vs. 57%, p = 0.018). In patients with prior antibiotic use, identification rates also differed significantly (PCR, 77%; conventional, 50%; p = 0.027). Mixed infections were more frequent according to real-time PCR than conventional methods (26% vs. 4%, p < 0.001). By the real-time PCR, Streptococcus pneumoniae was most frequently identified (38%) as a causative pathogen, followed by Haemophilus influenzae (37%) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (5%). PCR also identified viral pathogens (21%), with sensitivity enhanced by simultaneous examination of both NPS and sputum samples rather than only NPS samples. CONCLUSIONS: Real-time PCR of NPS and sputum samples could better identify bacterial and viral pathogens in CAP than conventional methods, both overall and in patients with prior antibiotic treatment.
Authors: Jane K Fieldhouse; Emily S Bailey; Teck-Hock Toh; King-Ching Hii; Kerry A Mallinson; Jakie Ting; John A Lednicky; Antoinette Berita; Tham Thi Nguyen; Diego Galan; Son T Than; See-Chang Wong; Toh-Mee Wong; Patrick J Blair; Gregory C Gray Journal: Trop Dis Travel Med Vaccines Date: 2020-08-12
Authors: Eleftheria Chaini; Nikolaos D Chainis; Anastasios Ioannidis; Maria Magana; Chryssoula Nikolaou; Joseph Papaparaskevas; Melina-Vassiliki Liakata; Panagiotis Katopodis; Leonidas Papastavrou; George P Tegos; Stylianos Chatzipanagiotou Journal: Front Med (Lausanne) Date: 2016-09-28
Authors: Daniel G Wootton; Michael J Cox; Gregory B Gloor; David Litt; Katja Hoschler; Esther German; Joanne Court; Odiri Eneje; Lynne Keogan; Laura Macfarlane; Sarah Wilks; Peter J Diggle; Mark Woodhead; Miriam F Moffatt; William O C Cookson; Stephen B Gordon Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2019-02-20 Impact factor: 4.379