Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) accelerates identification of Gram-positive cocci in positive blood cultures.
Sepsis is a life-threatening disease with a high mortality rate. Rapid identification of blood culture isolates plays a crucial role in adequate antimicrobial therapy in sepsis patients. To accelerate microbiological diagnosis, a comprehensive panel of oligonucleotide probes for fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) targeting Gram-positive cocci was compiled and evaluated on 428 positive blood culture specimens. By combining genus-specific and species-specific probes, the assay allowed discrimination of staphylococci, streptococci and enterococci as well as differentiation of therapy-relevant pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecium/durans. Furthermore, the newly designed FISH probes STREP2, ENCO and GRANU targeted Streptococcus pneumoniae/mitis, Enterococcus spp. (except E. faecalis) and Granulicatella adiacens group, respectively. The FISH assay achieved an overall sensitivity of 98.65% and a specificity of 99.0% and therefore allowed rapid and reliable molecular identification of Gram-positive cocci in blood culture specimens.
Gescher
Dorothee Maria
DM
Institut für Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Dorotheenstr. 96, D-10117 Berlin, Germany. dorothee.gescher@lvr.de
Kovacevic
Dragoljub
D
Schmiedel
Dinah
D
Siemoneit
Steffi
S
Mallmann
Christian
C
Halle
Elke
E
Göbel
Ulf B
UB
Moter
Annette
A
D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D006095:Gram-Positive Cocci / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes / Q000235:genetics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018805:Sepsis / Q000382:microbiology*
D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes