OBJECTIVES: Broad-range PCR has the potential to detect virtually any bacterial species via amplification and nucleotide sequencing of a DNA region common to all bacteria. We aimed to evaluate its usefulness and clinical relevance when applied to a wide variety of primary sterile materials. METHODS: A prospective study including 1370 samples (75 heart valves, 151 joint tissue samples, 230 joint aspirates, 848 whole blood samples and 66 culture-negative cerebrospinal fluid samples) were studied by using a commercial PCR system for detecting 16S rDNA (Molzym). The PCR results were compared with culture and were considered to provide added diagnostic value only if the PCR approach revealed new pathogens that were missed by culture. RESULTS: The added value of PCR was evident in 173 of 555 PCR-positive samples (0.126; 0.109-0.144 (proportion from all tested samples; 95% confidence interval)), most frequently in examinations of heart valves (0.56; 0.448-0.672) and joint tissue samples (0.219; 0.153-0.284). In contrast, the lowest rate of PCR with added value was noted for blood samples, regardless of the patient cohort they had been drawn from (nononcologic patients from intensive care: 0.065; 0.043-0.087, haematooncologic children: 0.048; 0.027-0.070). Moreover, PCR missed up to 7.1% of blood culture findings (0.071; 0.048-0.095) regarded as clinically relevant, which was the second highest failure rate after joint tissue samples (0.099; 0.052-0.147). CONCLUSIONS: Broad-range PCR substantially increases detection rate of pathogens, especially from heart valves and joint samples. However, a concurrent risk of false-negative PCR results justifies the need for parallel culture.
- MeSH
- bakteriální infekce diagnóza MeSH
- bakteriologické techniky metody MeSH
- diagnostické techniky molekulární metody MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- kojenec MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- polymerázová řetězová reakce metody MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- prospektivní studie MeSH
- RNA ribozomální 16S genetika MeSH
- sekvenční analýza DNA metody MeSH
- senioři nad 80 let MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- kojenec MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- senioři nad 80 let MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- hodnotící studie MeSH
- srovnávací studie MeSH
- Publikační typ
- abstrakt z konference MeSH
- Publikační typ
- abstrakt z konference MeSH
- MeSH
- diastola fyziologie MeSH
- echokardiografie metody využití MeSH
- farmakoterapie metody MeSH
- kardiovaskulární chirurgické výkony metody využití MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mortalita MeSH
- natriuretický peptid typu B analýza diagnostické užití MeSH
- péče o pacienty v kritickém stavu metody MeSH
- srdeční selhání etiologie komplikace terapie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
