title: Evaluation of the LightCycler SeptiFast test in the rapid etiologic diagnostic of infectious endocarditis.
abstract: The SeptiFast test (Roche Diagnostics) is a new commercial molecular technique that has emerged for the detection of bacteria in blood. We compared in this study the sensitivity of blood culture to a commercially available broad-range real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the detection in blood of 19 bacterial species and six fungal species (SeptiFast test, Roche Diagnostics) in 63 patients with infectious endocarditis (IE). The SeptiFast test is not more sensitive for organisms such as Streptococci, Enterococci, and Staphylococcus aureus (11/29 versus 12/29 for blood culture). It has detected less commonly coagulase-negative Staphylococci (0/15 versus 3/15, P = 0.2) and significantly fewer other microorganisms (0/6 versus 4/6, P = 0.03). However, bacteria were detected from three IE treated by antibiotics, with blood culture negative on admission. The SeptiFast test may be useful in cases of IE in patients treated with antibiotics before admission.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Microbiologie, IFR 48, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de La Timone, 264 rue Saint Pierre, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Casalta
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gouriet
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Roux
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Thuny
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Habib
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raoult
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005658:Fungi / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D009181:Mycoses / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity