PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Adrian Ceccato
AU  - Catia Cilloniz
AU  - Miquel Ferrer
AU  - Gian Luigi Li Bassi
AU  - Laia Fernandez Barat
AU  - Tarek Senussi Testa
AU  - Mariano Rinaudo
AU  - Mariano Esperatti
AU  - Francesco Idone
AU  - Antoni Torres
TI  - Usefulness of real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the diagnosis of ICU-acquired pneumonia (ICUAP)
AID  - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2016.PA2634
DP  - 2016 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - PA2634
VI  - 48
IP  - suppl 60
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/48/suppl_60/PA2634.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/48/suppl_60/PA2634.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2016 Sep 01; 48
AB  - 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.