Evaluation of a Novel Multiplex PCR Panel Compared to Quantitative Bacterial Culture for Diagnosis of Lower Respiratory Tract Infections
Mackenzie E. Collins, Elena B. Popowitch, Melissa B. Miller
Abstract
Quantitative bacterial culture of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) is labor-intensive, and the delay involved in performing culture, definitive identification, and susceptibility testing often results in prolonged use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. The Unyvero lower respiratory tract (LRT) panel (Curetis, Holzgerlingen, Germany) allows the multiplexed rapid detection and identification of 20 potential etiologic agents of pneumonia within 5 h of collection. In addition, the assay includes detection of gene sequences that confer antimicrobial resistance.
Topics & Concepts
Bronchoalveolar lavagePneumoniaMultiplex polymerase chain reactionRespiratory tractMicrobiologyMultiplexRespiratory tract infectionsMicrobiological cultureAntibioticsBiologyVentilator-associated pneumoniaBacteriaImmunologyRespiratory systemPolymerase chain reactionMedicineGeneLungInternal medicineBioinformaticsGeneticsPneumonia and Respiratory InfectionsNosocomial Infections in ICURespiratory viral infections research