title: Amplification of bacterial DNA does not distinguish patients with ascitic fluid infection from those colonized by bacteria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene amplification to diagnose spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP).
  
  
  METHODS
  According to a retrospective protocol, 31 patients with portal hypertensive ascites (serum to ascites albumin gradient > or = 1.1 g/dL) were studied. Ascitic fluid was analyzed as follows: Gram stain, aerobic and anaerobic cultures, polymorphonuclear cell count, and biochemical tests. Bacterial DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 8 episodes of SBP and 4 episodes of bacterascites (BA). Culture was positive in 4 of 8 cases of SBP and bacterial DNA was positive in 7 of 8 cases of SBP. Bacterial DNA was positive in 3 of 4 cases of BA and in 8 of 28 cases of culture-negative non-neutrocytic ascites (CNNNA). The PELD score, serum to albumin ascites gradient, and mortality showed no statistical difference between patients with CNNNA and the result of the bacterial DNA analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the 16S rRNA gene amplification was better than culture to diagnose SBP, bacterial DNA does not seem to allow a distinction between ascites infection and ascites colonization.
authors: Unit of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil. smvieira@hcpa.ufrgs.br
authors: Sandra M G
authors: SM
authors: Vieira
authors: Themis R
authors: TR
authors: da Silveira
authors: Ursula
authors: U
authors: Matte
authors: Carlos O
authors: CO
authors: Kieling
authors: Cristina T
authors: CT
authors: Ferreira
authors: Adriano
authors: A
authors: Taniguchi
authors: Fernanda dos Santos
authors: Fdos S
authors: Oliveira
authors: Afonso L
authors: AL
authors: Barth
mesh_terms: D001201:Ascites / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000150:complications; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial