Comparison of culture and qPCR for the detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in not chronically infected cystic fibrosis patients.
BACKGROUND
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the major respiratory pathogen causing severe lung infections among CF patients, leading to high morbidity and mortality. Once infection is established, early antibiotic treatment is able to postpone the transition to chronic lung infection. In order to optimize the early detection, we compared the sensitivity of microbiological culture and quantitative PCR (qPCR) for the detection of P. aeruginosa in respiratory samples of not chronically infected CF patients.


RESULTS
In this national study, we followed CF patients during periods between 1 to 15 months. For a total of 852 samples, 729 (86%) remained P. aeruginosa negative by both culture and qPCR, whereas 89 samples (10%) were positive by both culture and qPCR.Twenty-six samples were negative by culture but positive by qPCR, and 10 samples were positive by culture but remained negative by qPCR. Five of the 26 patients with a culture negative, qPCR positive sample became later P. aeruginosa positive both by culture and qPCR.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that qPCR may have a predictive value for impending P. aeruginosa infection for only a limited number of patients.
Deschaght
Pieter
P
Laboratory for Bacteriology Research, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. Deschaght.pieter@ugent.be
Schelstraete
Petra
P
Lopes dos Santos Santiago
Guido
G
Van Simaey
Leen
L
Haerynck
Filomeen
F
Van Daele
Sabine
S
De Wachter
Elke
E
Malfroot
Anne
A
Lebecque
Patrick
P
Knoop
Christiane
C
Casimir
Georges
G
Boboli
Hedwige
H
Pierart
Frédéric
F
Desager
Kristine
K
Vaneechoutte
Mario
M
De Baets
Frans
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D046508:Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult