title: Comparison of culture with the polymerase chain reaction for detection of Ureaplasma urealyticum in endotracheal aspirates of preterm infants.
abstract: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the urease genes of Ureaplasma urealyticum was compared with culture for detection of the organism in 100 endotracheal aspirates from 54 ventilated preterm infants. Ninety specimens gave negative results by both culture and PCR and three specimens gave positive results by both culture and PCR. Six specimens were negative by culture but positive by PCR. The one specimen positive by culture and negative by PCR was interpreted as a false-positive culture result. Overall agreement between results obtained by culture and PCR was 93%. PCR is a sensitive and reliable method for the detection of U. urealyticum in neonatal endotracheal secretions. Detection by PCR (1-2 days) is more rapid than culture (2-5 days) and this will be important if early therapeutic intervention is shown to be effective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Edinburgh, Medical School, UK.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Cunliffe
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fergusson
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lyon
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Ross
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013396:Suction; D013997:Time Factors; D014132:Trachea / Q000382:microbiology*; D016869:Ureaplasma Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D016990:Ureaplasma urealyticum / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial