Usefulness of 23S rRNA amplification by PCR in the detection of bacteria in CAPD peritonitis.
BACKGROUND
Peritonitis is the most common complication of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), and the spectrum of organisms causing CAPD peritonitis is broad. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has recently broadened its diagnostic capabilities in infectious diseases. PCR can provide a sensitive method for identifying causative infectious organisms.


METHODS
To evaluate the usefulness of 23S bacterial ribosomal RNA amplification and direct sequencing for the detection of infectious organisms, we compared PCR with bacteriological culture for the analysis of dialysates from CAPD peritonitis patients. Thirty-two samples from CAPD peritonitis patients with current antibiotic use and control samples from 30 CAPD patients without peritonitis were examined by PCR with sequencing analysis and by conventional bacteriological culture. In addition, 95 culture-positive samples and 39 culture-negative samples from CAPD peritonitis patients before antibiotic treatment were analyzed by PCR assay.


RESULTS
In the control samples from patients without CAPD peritonitis, false-positive rates were relatively rare: 3 of 30 in the PCR study and 2 of 30 in the culture study. Of the 134 CAPD peritonitis samples collected before antibiotic therapy, positive cultures were obtained in 70.9% (95/134) of them. In 75 of the culture-positive samples, the same microorganisms were confirmed by PCR assay, and the others showed discrepant results as compared with culture study. In 30 of the 39 culture-negative samples, microbial organisms were detected by PCR assay. Of the 32 samples from patients who developed CAPD peritonitis during antibiotic treatment, 17 (53.1%) were positive by PCR assay, and 5 (15.6%) were positive by culture.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that broad-spectrum PCR with RNA sequencing can complement culture methods in the diagnosis of CAPD peritonitis, especially in patients with previous or current antibiotic use.
Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seodaemun-ku, Seoul, Korea.
Tae-Hyun
TH
Yoo
Kyung Hee
KH
Chang
Dong-Ryeol
DR
Ryu
Ju Sung
JS
Kim
Hoon Young
HY
Choi
Hyeong Cheon
HC
Park
Shin-Wook
SW
Kang
Kyu Hun
KH
Choi
June Myung
JM
Kim
Sung Kyu
SK
Ha
Dae Suk
DS
Han
Ho Yung
HY
Lee
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D010531:Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / Q000235:genetics*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S