title: Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in the microbiological diagnostic routine laboratory: a review.
abstract: Early identification of microbial pathogens is essential for rational and conservative antibiotic use especially in the case of known regional resistance patterns. Here, we describe fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) as one of the rapid methods for easy identification of microbial pathogens, and its advantages and disadvantages for the diagnosis of pathogens in human infections in the laboratory diagnostic routine. Binding of short fluorescence-labeled DNA or nucleic acid-mimicking PNA probes to ribosomes of infectious agents with consecutive analysis by fluorescence microscopy allows identification of bacterial and eukaryotic pathogens at genus or species level. FISH analysis leads to immediate differentiation of infectious agents without delay due to the need for microbial culture. As a microscopic technique, FISH has the unique potential to provide information about spatial resolution, morphology and identification of key pathogens in mixed species samples. On-going automation and commercialization of the FISH procedure has led to significant shortening of the time-to-result and increased test reliability. FISH is a useful tool for the rapid initial identification of microbial pathogens, even from primary materials. Among the rapidly developing alternative techniques, FISH serves as a bridging technology between microscopy, microbial culture, biochemical identification and molecular diagnostic procedures.
authors.affiliation: a German Armed Forces Hospital of Hamburg, Department of Tropical Medicine at the Bernhard Nocht Institute , Hamburg , Germany.
authors.forename: Hagen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Frickmann
authors.affiliation: b Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Göttingen , Göttingen , Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas Erich
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Zautner
authors.affiliation: c University Medical Center Berlin, Biofilmcenter at the German Heart Institute Berlin , Berlin , Germany.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moter
authors.affiliation: c University Medical Center Berlin, Biofilmcenter at the German Heart Institute Berlin , Berlin , Germany.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kikhney
authors.affiliation: a German Armed Forces Hospital of Hamburg, Department of Tropical Medicine at the Bernhard Nocht Institute , Hamburg , Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf Matthias
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Hagen
authors.affiliation: d Stender Diagnostics , Gentofte , Denmark.
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stender
authors.affiliation: e Institute for Medical Microbiology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen , Giessen , Germany.
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Poppert
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D018441:Biofilms; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D008828:Microbiological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D010539:Permeability; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D016707:Tissue Fixation; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000821:virology; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes
keywords: Fluorescence in situ hybridization; rapid diagnostics of infectious diseases