PCR or Blood Culture for Diagnosing Nosocomial Bloodstream Infections?

The polymerase chain reaction assay produced results more rapidly but had lower sensitivity and accuracy than blood culture.

Rapid, accurate identification of pathogens is essential for successful management of patients with bloodstream infections. Blood cultures are the standard diagnostic tool in such situations, but results may take ≥48 hours. Recently, a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting bacterial and fungal ribosomal DNA in blood (SeptiFast) was introduced, enabling detection and identification of the most common pathogens within a few hours.

In a prospective, multicenter study involving 795 critically ill patients with 922 episodes of suspected nosocomial bloodstream infections between July 2010 and January 2013, researchers in the U.K. compared the clinical accuracy of SeptiFast with that of conventional blood cultures. In 85% of the…

Reviewing Author

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection

PCR or Blood Culture for Diagnosing Nosocomial Bloodstream Infections?

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Reviewing Author