title: Diagnostic accuracy and potential clinical value of the LightCycler SeptiFast assay in the management of bloodstream infections occurring in neutropenic and critically ill patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this study were to compare the performance of the LightCycler SeptiFast Test MGRADE and conventional blood culture in the etiological diagnosis of febrile episodes occurring in neutropenic and critically ill patients (in the intensive care unit; ICU), and to assess the potential clinical value of the SeptiFast test in patient management.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 86 febrile episodes occurring in 33 neutropenic patients and 53 ICU patients were analyzed. Blood samples for blood culture and SeptiFast testing were obtained at the onset of fever, before the implementation of empirical antimicrobial therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall microorganism-to-isolate agreement between the SeptiFast test and blood culture was 69% (κ=0.37) in neutropenic patients and 75% (κ=0.56) in ICU patients. The sensitivity of the SeptiFast assay for clinically relevant episodes of bacteremia and fungemia was 62% in neutropenic patients and 70% in ICU patients. Based on SeptiFast results, empirical treatments were deemed adequate in all but one of the febrile episodes. Nevertheless, early antibiotic treatment readjustment was judged feasible in most of clinically significant episodes overall.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SeptiFast assay is a valuable ancillary method for the diagnosis of bloodstream infections in neutropenic and ICU patients. In these clinical settings, results of the SeptiFast assay may lead to a more targeted antibiotic therapy early after the onset of fever.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Av. Blasco Ibáñez 17, 46010 Valencia, Spain. david.navarro@uv.es
authors.forename: Dayana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bravo
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blanquer
authors.forename: Mar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tormo
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aguilar
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Borrás
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Solano
authors.forename: María A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Clari
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Cobo
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Argüeso
authors.forename: José Roberto
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Pineda
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Navarro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D016638:Critical Illness; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever; D016469:Fungemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic