title: The clinical use of a fast screening test based on technology of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) for identification of Escherichia coli infection in biological material.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Escherichia coli is a Gram-negative bacterium which is a basic, symbiotic element of the physiological flora of the large intestine of humans and warm-blooded animals. However, in specific cases it may become a very dangerous pathogen (eg, diarrhoea, infection of the urinary tract, lungs, and generalized infections). Its early detection, as a cause of infectious disease, helps to achieve optimal treatment results; however, classical microbiological tests require at least 24 hours from sample taking to diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a unique solution based on CZE technologies enabling identification of E. coli presence in studied sample within half an hour. Altogether, 30 E. coli-infected wounds and ulcerations were examined, comparing the results obtained by classical culture method with the result of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) electropherogram.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The method, which does not require any preparation of the sample, achieved 86.7% sensitivity and 85%specificity in the examined clinical material (infections of surgical wounds).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The obtained results enable reliable, very fast testing for E. coli as a pathogen.
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Gastroenterological and Oncological Surgery, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szeliga
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Klodzinska
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jackowski
authors.forename: Bogusław
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Buszewski
mesh_terms: D001888:Boric Acids; D004492:Edetic Acid; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary / Q000379:methods*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D014325:Tromethamine
chemical_list: D001888:Boric Acids; C069591:Tris-borate-EDTA buffer; D014325:Tromethamine; D004492:Edetic Acid