[Determination of ascitic bacterial 16S rRNA gene in the rapid diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis].

Objective: To evaluate the value of ascitic bacterial 16S rRNA gene determination in the rapid diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP).

Methods: 16S rRNA gene from bacterial DNA in ascites was determined by quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 76 patients with suspected SBP and 6 patients with non-infectious ascites. The results were compared with those obtained from bacterial culture.

Results: The positive rate of SBP was 22.4% among patients detected with ascitic bacterial 16S rRNA gene determination-based quantitative fluorescent PCR, which was significantly higher than that (7.9%) in patients only received bacterial culture (P<0.05). In addition,in 6 patients with non-infectious ascites,both the 16S rRNA gene determination-based quantitative fluorescent PCR and bacterial culture showed negative results.

Conclusions: 16S rRNA gene determination-based quantitative fluorescent PCR can be an effective tool for the rapid diagnosis of SBP. It is more sensitive than the bacterial culture.