Evaluation of the Clinical Utility of a Real-time PCR Assay for the Diagnosis of Streptococcus pneumoniae Bacteremia in Children: A Retrospective Diagnostic Accuracy Study

Conclusion: This study demonstrates the limited utility of blood PCR testing for S. pneumoniae in pediatric patients without radiographic evidence pneumonia or empyema. Moreover, we report that PCR may be a useful diagnostic tool when blood cultures are negative because of antimicrobial therapy before sampling. Given that the incidence of pneumococcal disease has decreased considerably in recent years, justification of S. pneumoniae PCR requisition is necessary. Hence, new guidelines for pediatric pneumococcal blood PCR testing have been introduced at the Irish Meningitis and Sepsis Reference Laboratory.
Source: The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal - Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: Original Studies Source Type: research