تحري ذات الرئة المسببة بالمكورات العقدية الرئوية باستخدام تقانة التفاعل السلسلي للبوليميراز في الزمن الحقيقي

Abstract EN

Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important cause of community-acquired pneumonia.

However, the accurate diagnosis remains a challenge due to an inadequate sensitivity of conventional diagnostic tests.

Sputum cultures have been considered unreliable, due to their inability to differentiate colonization from infection.

Our objective was to evaluate the potential clinical utility of a rapid quantitative real-time PCR assay using sputum samples for Streptococcus pneumoniae in adult patients with community- acquired pneumonia.

The study included 59 patients, with clinical and radiographic evidence of pneumonia.

Sputum samples were tested for the presence of S.

pneumonia, by using a quantitative Real-Time PCR.

PCR findings were compared with sputum/blood cultures.

The area under the curve (AUC), and DNA cutoff value, which provides the maximal sensitivity and specificity, were calculated.

ROC curve analysis demonstrated an AUC of 0.938, DNA cutoff point was 3.8×104 copy/ml, and Sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 96.8%, respectively.

Of the specimens, 39% were found to be positive to S.

pneumoniae by QRT- PCR, while 20.3% were found to be positive by culture, and 18.7% were found to be negative by culture and positive by QRT-PCR.

Conclusion: Quantitative Real-time PCR offers a sensitive, efficient, and rapid method for the detection of S.

pneumoniae.