title: Usability application of multiplex polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis of microorganisms isolated from urine of patients treated in cancer hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS STUDY WAS: i) to compare the results of urine culture with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) -based detection of microorganisms using two commercially available kits, ii) to assess antimicrobial susceptibility of urine isolates from cancer patients to chosen antimicrobial drugs and, if necessary, to update the recommendation of empirical therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A one-year hospital-based prospective study has been conducted in Greater Poland Cancer Centre and Genetic Medicine Laboratory CBDNA Research Centre in 2011. Urine cultures and urine PCR assay from 72 patients were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Urine cultures and urine PCR assay from 72 patients were examined. Urine samples were positive for 128 strains from which 95 (74%) were identical in both tests. The most frequently isolated bacteria in both culture and PCR assay were coliform organisms and Enterococcus spp. The Gram negative bacilli were most resistant to cotrimoxazol. 77.2% of these bacilli and 100% of E. faecalis and S. agalactiae were sensitive to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. 4.7% of Gram positive cocci were resistant to nitrofurantoin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PCR method quickly finds the causative agent of urinary tract infection (UTI) and, therefore, it can help with making the choice of the proper antimicrobial therapy at an early stage. It appears to be a viable alternative to the recommendations made in general treatment guidelines, in cases where diversified sensitivity patterns of microorganisms have been found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Zefiryn
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cybulski
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grabiec
authors.forename: Zofia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Talaga
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bociąg
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wojciechowicz
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roszak
authors.forename: Witold
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kycler
keywords: PCR; microbiological culture; significant bacteriuria; susceptibility tests