title: Use of quantitative 16S ribosomal DNA detection for diagnosis of central vascular catheter-associated bacterial infection.
abstract: Many central vascular catheters (CVCs) are removed unnecessarily because current diagnostic methods for CVC-associated infection are unreliable. A quantitative PCR assay using primers and probe targeted to bacterial 16S ribosomal DNA was used to measure the levels of bacterial DNA in blood samples drawn through the CVC in a population of patients receiving intravenous nutrition. Bacterial DNA concentrations were raised in 16 of 16 blood samples taken during episodes of probable bacterial CVC-associated infection. Bacterial DNA concentrations were raised in 4 of 29 episodes in which bacterial CVC-associated infection was unlikely. The use of this technique has the potential to substantially reduce the unnecessary removal of CVCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Barts and The London NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Warwick
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilks
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hennessy
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Powell-Tuck
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Small
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Millar
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S