Evaluation of a Rapid Immunochromatographic ODK-0901 Test for Detection of Pneumococcal Antigen in Middle Ear Fluids and Nasopharyngeal Secretions

Muneki Hotomi,Naohiro Okitsu,Akihisa Togawa,Noboru Yamanaka,Masamitsu Kono,Yosuke Kamide,Shoichi Sawada,Yoko Saijo,Akihiro Uchizono,Yutaka Fujimaki,Shin Takei,Gen Sugita,Rinya Sugita,Yumi Tanaka,Keiko Kanesada,Paulo Lee Ho

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0033620

Abstract

Since the incidence of penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae has been increasing at an astonishing rate throughout the world, the need for accurate and rapid identification of pneumococci has become increasingly important to determine the appropriate antimicrobial treatment. We have evaluated an immunochromatographic test (ODK-0901) that detects pneumococcal antigens using 264 middle ear fluids (MEFs) and 268 nasopharyngeal secretions (NPSs). A sample was defined to contain S. pneumoniae when optochin and bile sensitive alpha hemolytic streptococcal colonies were isolated by culture. The sensitivity and specificity of the ODK-0901 test were 81.4% and 80.5%, respectively, for MEFs from patients with acute otitis media (AOM). In addition, the sensitivity and specificity were 75.2% and 88.8%, respectively, for NPSs from patients with acute rhinosinusitis. The ODK-0901 test may provide a rapid and highly sensitive evaluation of the presence of S. pneumoniae and thus may be a promising method of identifying pneumococci in MEFs and NPSs.

Highlights

Acute otitis media (AOM) is a common bacterial infection during childhood and frequently accompanies acute rhinosinusitis
We evaluated the clinical significance of a novel immunochromatographic ODK-0901 test that would allow the rapid and accurate detection of pneumococci in middle ear fluids (MEFs) and nasopharyngeal secretions (NPSs)
No cross-reactivity was seen with type b H. influenzae contained phosphorylcholine, suggesting that the antibody did not react with phosphorylcholine carried in C-ps [38,39,40]

Summary

Introduction

Acute otitis media (AOM) is a common bacterial infection during childhood and frequently accompanies acute rhinosinusitis. One alternative to antibacterial therapy for physicians would be to observe the affected children without administering antibiotics [9,10]. This alternative is undoubtedly accompanied by the risk of worsening infections [11,12]. A safer approach to the treatment of AOM and acute rhinosinusitis would be the accurate and rapid determination of the causative pathogen such as S. pneumoniae followed by prompt antibacterial therapy using antibiotics appropriate for the detected pathogen. An effective tool for the rapid diagnosis of middle ear infections had not yet been developed

Methods

Results

Conclusion