title: Evaluation of the Light-Cycler® SeptiFast Test in Newborns With Suspicion of Nosocomial Sepsis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nosocomial sepsis (NS) in newborns (NBs) is associated with high mortality rates and low microbial recovery rates. To overcome the latter problem, new techniques in molecular biology are being used.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of SeptiFast test for the diagnosis of nosocomial sepsis in the newborn.
  
  
  METHODS
  86 blood specimens of NBs with suspected NS (NOSEP-1 Test > 8 points) were analyzed using Light Cycler SeptiFast (LC-SF) a real-time multiplex PCR instrument. The results were analyzed with the Roche SeptiFast Identification Software. Another blood sample was collected to carry out a blood culture (BC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sensitivity (Sn) and specificity (Sp) of 0.69 and 0.65 respectively, compared with blood culture (BC) were obtained for LC-SF. Kappa index concordance between LC-SF and BC was 0.21. Thirteen (15.11%) samples were BC positive and 34 (31.39%) were positive with LC-SF tests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with BC, LC-SF allows the detection of a greater number of pathogenic species in a small blood sample (1 mL) with a shorter response time.
authors.affiliation: Research Department, Diagnomol Laboratories, Mexico City Mexico.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ortiz Ibarra
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Department, University Hospital, Monterrey Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Trevino Valdez
authors.affiliation: Research Department, Diagnomol Laboratories, Mexico City Mexico.
authors.forename: Ema
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Valenzuela Mendez
authors.affiliation: Central South Hospital of Mexican Petroleum, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Limon Rojas
authors.affiliation: Neonatology Department, Obstetrics and gynecological Hospital, Mexican Social Security Institute, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lara Flores
authors.affiliation: Neonatology Department, Dalinde Hospital, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ceballos Bocanegra
authors.affiliation: Neonatology Department, National Institute of Perinatology, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Iyari
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Morales Mendez
authors.affiliation: Neonatology Department, National Institute of Perinatology, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fernandez Carrocera
authors.affiliation: Central South Hospital of Mexican Petroleum, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Covian Molina
authors.affiliation: Central South Hospital of Mexican Petroleum, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Jesus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reyna Figueroa
keywords: Diagnosis; Infant, Newborn; Infection; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sepsis