Infectious diseases (London, England)

2374-42434811-122016Nov-DecInfectious diseases (London, England)Infect Dis (Lond)Identification of pathogens by comprehensive real-time PCR versus conventional methods in community-acquired pneumonia in Japanese adults.782788782-810.1080/23744235.2016.1193788Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) has high morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, the pathogen detection rate using conventional culture methods is relatively low. We compared comprehensive real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) analysis of nasopharyngeal swab specimens (NPS) and sputum samples against conventional methods for ability to detect causative pathogens of CAP.We prospectively enrolled adult CAP patients, including those with prior antibiotic use, from December 2012 to May 2014. For each patient, causative pathogens were investigated conventionally and by real-time PCR that can identify 6 bacterial and 11 viral pathogens.Patients numbered 92 (mean age, 63 years; 59 male), including 30 (33%) with prior antibiotic use. Considering all patients, identification of causative pathogens by real-time PCR was significantly more frequent than by conventional methods in all patients (72% vs. 57%, p = 0.018). In patients with prior antibiotic use, identification rates also differed significantly (PCR, 77%; conventional, 50%; p = 0.027). Mixed infections were more frequent according to real-time PCR than conventional methods (26% vs. 4%, p < 0.001). By the real-time PCR, Streptococcus pneumoniae was most frequently identified (38%) as a causative pathogen, followed by Haemophilus influenzae (37%) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (5%). PCR also identified viral pathogens (21%), with sensitivity enhanced by simultaneous examination of both NPS and sputum samples rather than only NPS samples.Real-time PCR of NPS and sputum samples could better identify bacterial and viral pathogens in CAP than conventional methods, both overall and in patients with prior antibiotic treatment.YoshiiYutakaYa Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine , The Jikei University School of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan ;ShimizuKenichiroKa Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine , The Jikei University School of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan ;MorozumiMiyukiMb Department of Infectious Diseases , Keio University School of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan ;ChibaNaokoNb Department of Infectious Diseases , Keio University School of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan ;UbukataKimikoKb Department of Infectious Diseases , Keio University School of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan ;UrugaHironoriHc Department of Respiratory Medicine , Respiratory Center, Toranomon Hospital , Tokyo , Japan ;HanadaShigeoSc Department of Respiratory Medicine , Respiratory Center, Toranomon Hospital , Tokyo , Japan ;WakuiHiroshiHa Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine , The Jikei University School of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan ;ItoSaburoSa Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine , The Jikei University School of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan ;TakasakaNaokiNa Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine , The Jikei University School of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan ;MinagawaShunsukeSa Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine , The Jikei University School of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan ;KojimaJunJa Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine , The Jikei University School of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan ;NumataTakanoriTa Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine , The Jikei University School of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan ;HaraHiromichiHa Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine , The Jikei University School of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan ;KawaishiMakotoMa Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine , The Jikei University School of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan ;SaitoKeisukeKd Department of Respiratory Medicine , The Jikei University Daisan Hospital , Tokyo , Japan.ArayaJunJa Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine , The Jikei University School of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan ;KanekoYumiYa Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine , The Jikei University School of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan ;NakayamaKatsutoshiKa Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine , The Jikei University School of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan ;KishiKazumaKc Department of Respiratory Medicine , Respiratory Center, Toranomon Hospital , Tokyo , Japan ;KuwanoKazuyoshiKa Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine , The Jikei University School of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan ;engComparative StudyEvaluation StudyJournal Article20160622