Novel multiplex-PCR test for Escherichia coli detection.

Abstract

Detection of E. coli from environmental or clinical samples is important due to the common occurrence of this species of bacteria in all human and animal environments. As commonly known, these bacteria strains can be commensal and pathogenic, causing numerous infections of clinical importance, including infections of the digestive system, urinary, respiratory, and even meninges, particularly dangerous for newborns. The developed multiplex polymerase chain reaction test, confirming the presence of E. coli in samples, can be used in many laboratories. The test provides new opportunities for quick and cheap analyses, detecting E. coli using only three pairs of primers (analysis of the presence of three genes) responsible for metabolism and distinguishing E. coli from other pathogens from the Enterobacteriaceae family. Compared to other tests previously described in the literature, our method is characterized by high specificity and sensitivity.