Abstract
Background: ICUAP is the most frequent nosocomial infection in the ICU. Conventional cultures (CC) require at least 48-72 hours for a definitive result. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of a new platform based on the amplification of nucleic acids (RT-PCR Unyvero, Curetis), designed to identify the pathogenic bacteria that commonly cause ICUAP.
Methods: 128 samples (110, 86% bronchoalveolar lavage, and 18 (14%) bronchial aspirate) obtained from 64 patients with ICUAP collected between 2011 and 2013 were analyzed by RT-PCR and CC.
Results: Concordance between CC and RT-PCR occurred in 43 (67%) patients (83 samples); 32 (50%) patients had negative results by the two methods, and 11 (17%) cases had the same identification by the two methods. In 4 (6%) patients the RT-PCR test was positive and CC was negative, and in 17 (27%) cases disagreement was observed among both techniques. The pathogen most frequently identified was Pseudomonas aeruginosa, by RT-PCR in 5 (8%) patients and by CC in 10 (15%) patients. Among the 43 patients with concordance, changes in the empirical treatment according to RT-PCR results would have been possible in a short period of time in 39 (91%) patients .
Conclusions: Agreement between RT-PCR and CC was observed in 64% samples from ICUAP. Further analysis will be carried out to determine the cause of disagreement.
Supported by SEPAR grant.
- Copyright ©the authors 2016
