Infection and Drug Resistance (Aug 2019)
Rapid diagnosis of neonatal sepsis by PCR for detection of 16S rRNA gene, while blood culture and PCR results were similar in E.coli-predominant EOS cases
Abstract
Mostafa I EL-Amir,1 Mohamed Ali El-Feky,1,2 Doaa A Abo Elwafa,1 Eman Ahmed Abd-Elmawgood31Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt; 2Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt; 3Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, EgyptCorrespondence: Mostafa I EL-AmirLecturer of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Qena 83511, EgyptTel +20 100 772 5553Email [email protected]: To determine the bacteriological pattern and antibiotic susceptibility of bacterial isolates causing neonatal sepsis in Qena University Hospitals and compare polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and blood culture results in a trial for rapid diagnosis.Patients and methods: Blood samples from 75 clinically suspected cases of neonatal sepsis were subjected to identification of bacteria and determination of their antibiotic sensitivity through blood culture, and rapid detection of 16S rRNA and the uidA gene (to confirm the presence of E. coli) by PCR from extracted bacterial DNA.Results: Most patients were preterm (64%) and low birth weight (LBW) (68%). In total, 42.7% presented with early onset sepsis (EOS). LBW was significantly associated with EOS (P-value=0.03). Although the blood culture and PCR results were similar in EOS, the PCR results were significantly higher than those of blood culture in detecting bacteria (85.3% vs 68%, respectively, P-value=0.001). Blood culture showed 100% specificity. The most common pathogen was E. coli (86.2%) in EOS and Staphylococcus spp. (45.5%) in late-onset sepsis (LOS) (P-value=0.001 and 0.02, respectively). The most effective antibiotics against Gram-negative bacteria were ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, imipenem, and amikacin, while vancomycin, oxacillin, and imipenem were the most effective antibiotics against Gram-positive bacteria.Conclusion: EOS was mainly caused by E. coli, while LOS was mainly caused by Staphylococcus spp. The 16S rRNA PCR showed higher sensitivity with rapid and accurate diagnosis. Blood culture is the most suitable method for antimicrobial sensitivity testing.Keywords: neonatal sepsis, 16S rRNA, blood culture, EOS, LOS
