title: Evaluation of a new real-time PCR assay for the direct detection of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli in stool specimens.
abstract: Diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) are one of the most common causes for diarrhea worldwide, especially in children. We evaluated the rapid RIDA ® GENE (RG) real-time multiplex PCR assays (R-Biopharm, Darmstadt, Germany) for the detection of the most important diarrheagenic E. coli. Three hundred fifteen liquid or non-formed stool specimens were examined. The results of the RG multiplex assays were compared to specific PCR methods. The sensitivity and specificity of the RG PCRs were as follows, 100%/100% for the detection of EHEC, 96.3% and 99% for EPEC, 100% and 100% for the detection of EAEC, ETEC and EIEC, respectively. Overall, the RG real-time PCR system for the detection of DEC tested in this study provided reliable and rapid results and shows the ability as a useful addendum for the detection of diarrheagenic E. coli in the medical laboratory.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Limbach Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address: ulrich.eigner@labor-limbach.de.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Eigner
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Regensburg, Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hiergeist
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Limbach Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Veldenzer
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Limbach Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rohlfs
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Limbach Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Limbach Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holfelder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: Diarrheagenic E. coli; Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC); Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC); Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC); Enterotoxinogenic E. coli (ETEC); RIDA ® GENE (RG) real-time multiplex PCR assays; Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC)