Open AccessEvaluation of Commercial Universal rRNA Gene PCR plus Sequencing Tests for Identification of Bacteria and Fungi Associated with Infectious Endocarditis
Author(s) -
Christian Kühn,
Claudia Disqué,
Helge Mühl,
Peter Orszag,
Meike Stiesch,
Axel Haverich
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of clinical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.349
H-Index - 255
eISSN - 1070-633X
pISSN - 0095-1137
DOI - 10.1128/jcm.00830-11
Subject(s) - microbiology and biotechnology , biology , endocarditis , bacteria , haemophilus parainfluenzae , polymerase chain reaction , blood culture , infective endocarditis , antibiotics , medical microbiology , virology , gene , medicine , haemophilus influenzae , genetics
Two new commercially available universal rRNA gene PCR plus sequencing tests, SepsiTest and universal microbe detection (UMD; Molzym, Bremen, Germany), were evaluated using blood specimens and heart valves from 30 patients with suspected infectious endocarditis (IE). The sensitivity of PCR (85%) was nearly twice as high as that of culture (45%), which in 10/20 IE cases presumably stayed negative as a consequence of growth inhibition of the pathogens by antibiotics. Further, PCR provided the basis for reclassification of 5/10 non-IE cases into IE cases. Culture-negative infections were identified by PCR, including single infections due to streptococci and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli ,Haemophilus parainfluenzae ) and mixed infections involving two Gram-positive bacteria orCandida spp. with Gram-positive bacteria. The new commercial tests proved to be of value for the rapid diagnosis of IE, particularly in cases of culture-negative infections. Issues regarding the feasibility of these tests for routine use are discussed.