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Accuracy of Real‐Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Versus Anaerobic Culture in Detection of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitan s and Porphyromonas gingivalis : A Meta‐Analysis
Author(s) -
Atieh Momen A.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.036
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1943-3670
pISSN - 0022-3492
DOI - 10.1902/jop.2008.070668
Subject(s) - porphyromonas gingivalis , aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans , microbiology and biotechnology , polymerase chain reaction , anaerobic exercise , meta analysis , periodontitis , medicine , biology , dentistry , gene , pathology , genetics , physiology
Background: Real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been used to assist in the detection and quantification of several periodontal pathogens. The aim of this study was to perform a meta‐analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of real‐time PCR aimed at detecting Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (previously Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans ) and Porphyromonas gingivalis . Methods: Studies comparing real‐time PCR versus anaerobic bacterial culture were identified via electronic and manual searches. Meta‐analyses examined the areas under summary receiver operator characteristic curves (SROCs), and diagnostic odds ratios (DORs) were calculated to evaluate the test accuracy. Results: Five studies met the inclusion criteria and showed some degree of heterogeneity. The areas under SROCs for real‐time PCR in identifying A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis were 95.9% and 99.5%, respectively. The DORs in detecting A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis were 18.5 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.25 to 152.02) and 40.47 (95% CI: 1.99 to 822.26), respectively. Conclusions: The present review showed a high diagnostic accuracy of real‐time PCR in detecting A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis compared to the culture technique. However, the choice of the microbiologic test is determined by several factors, including diagnostic accuracy, cost, availability, and the need for an antibiotic susceptibility test.