Real-time broad-range PCR versus blood culture. A prospective pilot study in pediatric cancer patients with fever and neutropenia.
METHODS
In a pilot study, results of real-time broad-range (16S rRNA) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) performed on 45 blood samples of pediatric cancer patients with fever and neutropenia were compared with blood culture results.


RESULTS
The PCR assay used, having proven a high sensitivity in artificially spiked blood samples, was positive in only three of ten blood culture-positive samples, and it was positive in 10 of 35 (29%) culture-negative samples.


CONCLUSIONS
This broad-range PCR assay, which may identify not-grown bacteria potentially contributing to fever, needs improvement in sensitivity, and different reasons for positive PCR in negative blood culture samples need to be assessed before clinical application.
Ammann
Roland A
RA
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Bern, CH-3010, Bern, Switzerland. roland.ammann@insel.ch.
Zucol
Franziska
F
Division of Infectious Diseases, University Children's Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Aebi
Christoph
C
Institute of Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Niggli
Felix K
FK
Division of Oncology, University Children's Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Kühne
Thomas
T
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University Children's Hospital, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Nadal
David
D
Division of Infectious Diseases, University Children's Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D005334:Fever / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S