FilmArray Pneumonia Panel Research Articles

Rapid multiplex PCR panel for pneumonia in hospitalised patients with suspected pneumonia in the USA: a single-centre, open-label, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial

The clinical utility of rapid multiplex respiratory specimen PCR panels for pneumonia for patients with suspected pneumonia is undefined. We aimed to compare the effect of the BioFire FilmArraypneumonia panel (bioMérieux, Salt Lake City, UT, USA) with standard of care testing on antibiotic use in a real-world hospital setting. We conducted a single-centre, open-label, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. Hospitalised patients (aged ≥18years) with suspected pneumonia, from whom expectorated or induced sputum, tracheal secretions, or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid respiratory culture samples (one per individual) could be collected during index hospitalisation, were eligible for inclusion. Samples from eligible participants were randomly assigned (1:1) with a computerised tool to undergo testing with either the BioFire FilmArray pneumonia panel, conventional culture, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (intervention group) or conventional culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing alone (control group). Antimicrobial stewardship review in both groups involved an assessment and recommendations for antibiotic modifications based on clinical data and the results from the BioFire FilmArray pneumonia panel, conventional culture, or both. The primary outcome was median time to first antibiotic modification (ie, escalation or de-escalation of antibiotics against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria) within 96h of randomisation, assessed with the Wilcoxon rank-sum test and analysed in a modified intention-to-treat population. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05937126). Between Sept 15, 2020, and Sept 19, 2022, 1547patients were screened for eligibility, of whom 1181 (76·3%) were randomly assigned: 582 (49·3%) to the intervention group and 599 (50·7%) to the control group. In total, 1152participants were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis, 589 (51·1%) in the control group and 563(48·9%) in the intervention group. For the modified intention-to-treat population, median time to any first antibiotic modification was 20·4h (95% CI 18·0-20·4) in the intervention group and 25·8h (22·0-28·7) in the control group (p=0·076). Median time to any antibiotic escalation was 13·8h (9·2-19·0) in the intervention group and 24·1h (19·5-29·6) in the control group (p=0·0022). Median time to escalation of antibiotics against Gram-positive organisms was 10·3h (6·2-30·9) in the intervention group and 24·6h (19·5-37·2) in the control group (p=0·044); median time to escalation of antibiotics against Gram-negative organisms was 17·3h (10·8-23·3) in the intervention group and 27·2h (21·3-33·9) in the control group (p=0·010). Median time to any antibiotic de-escalation did not differ between groups (p=0·37). Median time to first de-escalation of antibiotics against Gram-positive organisms was 20·7h (17·8-24·0) in the intervention group and 27·8h (22·9-33·0) in the control group (p=0·015); median time to first de-escalation of antibiotics against Gram-negative organisms did not differ between groups (p=0·46). Clinical use of the BioFire FilmArray pneumonia panel might lead to faster antibiotic escalations, including for Gram-negative or Gram-positive bacteria, and faster antibiotic de-escalations directed at Gram-positive bacteria. Additional research is needed regarding antimicrobial de-escalation, especially when antibiotics with broad Gram-negative spectrum are being used, by use of rapid diagnostics in patients with lower respiratory tract infection. bioMérieux.

Comparison of agreement between the BioFire Film Array Pneumonia Panel and conventional culture-based methods in the diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia.

Comparison of agreement between the BioFire Film Array Pneumonia Panel and conventional culture-based methods in the diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia.

The Impact of Next-Generation Sequencing Added to Multiplex PCR on Antibiotic Stewardship in Critically Ill Patients with Suspected Pneumonia.

In patients with suspected pneumonia who are tested with respiratory culture and multiplex PCR, the potential added benefit of next-generation sequencing technologies is unknown. This was a single-center, retrospective study in which residual bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens were retrieved from hospitalized patients. We compared its research-use-only Respiratory Pathogen Illumina Panel (RPIP) results to culture and BioFire® FilmArray Pneumonia Panel (BioFire® PN) results from critically ill patients. In total, 47 BAL specimens from 47 unique patients were included. All BAL samples were tested with culture and multiplex PCR. In total, 38 of the 47 BALs were consistent with a clinical picture of pneumonia per chart review. Additional testing of the 38 samples with the RPIP identified a new bacterium in 20 patients, a new virus in 4 patients, a new bacterium plus virus in 4 patients, and no additional organisms in 10 patients. In 17 (44.5%) of these patients, the RPIP results could have indicated an antibiotic addition. Compared with cultures, the RPIP had an overall sensitivity of 64% and specificity of 98%, with a 0% sensitivity for fungus and 14% sensitivity for mycobacteria. Compared with BioFire® PN, the RPIP was 70% sensitive and 99% specific, with a 74% sensitivity for bacteria and 33% sensitivity for viruses. The RPIP was 29% more sensitive for HAP/VAP bacterial targets compared with CAP. Emerging NGS technologies such as the RPIP may have a role in identifying the etiology of pneumonia, even when patients have BAL culture and multiplex PCR results available. Similar to prior studies evaluating RPIP, our study showed this platform lacked sensitivity when compared with cultures, particularly for fungi and mycobacteria. However, the high specificity of the test can be leveraged when clinicians are seeking to rule out certain infections.

Comparison of film array pneumonia panel to routine diagnostic methods and its potential impact in an adult intensive care unit in Hong Kong and the potential role of emergency departments

Comparison of film array pneumonia panel to routine diagnostic methods and its potential impact in an adult intensive care unit in Hong Kong and the potential role of emergency departments

Evaluation of Biofire FilmArray Pneumonia Panel in Diagnosis of Pneumonia in Pediatric Patients in Intensive Care Unit in comparison to VITEK 2 Compact system and Routine Culture Methods

Evaluation of Biofire FilmArray Pneumonia Panel in Diagnosis of Pneumonia in Pediatric Patients in Intensive Care Unit in comparison to VITEK 2 Compact system and Routine Culture Methods

Clinical and Etiological Findings of Viral Pneumonia: A Single Centre Prospective Study

Introduction: Viral pneumonia is a prominent cause of illness that can occur in all age group throughout the year. Worldwide about 200 million cases of viral community acquired pneumonia occur every year of which 50% cases in children and 50% in adults [1]. Bacterial coinfection found only in 3% of cases [2]. The aim of our study is to find out most common viral pathogen causing pneumonia, most common bacterial co-infection, their typical clinical presentation, common abnormal lab parameters, CT findings, duration of ICU and hospital stay. Materials and Methods: All cases with sign and symptoms of respiratory infections with confirmed diagnosis of viral pneumonia (confirmed by BioFire FilmArray Pneumonia Panel from lower respiratory tract sample, confirmed by microscopy) were included in the study after proper consent. Demographic data, clinical history, laboratory investigations, all routine and radiological investigations are noted and evaluated. Results: Of the total 69 cases Influenza A virus (36%) is the predominant etiological agents followed by human rhinovirus (26%) in these cases. Human Rhinovirus predominate in the early part 2023 but towards end of this year Influenza A virus became the predominant cause for pneumonia. Patients of all age groups are affected but there is definitively a seasonal variation with more in the winter months. Most of the patients have typical respiratory findings like cough (83%) and fever (76%). CT scan showed bilateral ground glass opacity (56%) in most cases, and few had consolidation (29%) features. Blood CRP level (91%) was raised in most of these patients. Haemophilus Influenzae (34%) is the most common associated bacterial co-infection followed by Streptococcus Pneumoniae (26%). All patients responded well to conservative management. Conclusions: Viral pneumonia is not uncommon in the community. Though we found Influenza A followed by Human Rhinovirus are the two most common pathogens in these cases but only 59% of them have bacterial co-infection, so not all patients require antibiotics from the beginning. As most are infected with Haemophilus influenzae so aminopenicillin group is the antibiotics of choice for these patients. Hence as a pulmonologist we must be aware of these cases, their typical presentation and not to over treat these cases with high end antibiotics as most require only symptomatic treatment. Even though it is a single centre study, but it definitely throws a light on the pattern of viral pneumonia in our community

Application of a multiplex molecular pneumonia panel and real-world impact on antimicrobial stewardship among patients with hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia in intensive care units

BackgroundThe optimal timing for applying the BioFire FilmArray Pneumonia Panel (FAPP) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) or ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) remains undefined, and there are limited data on its impact on antimicrobial stewardship. MethodsThis retrospective study was conducted at a referral hospital in Taiwan from November 2019 to October 2022. Adult ICU patients with HAP/VAP who underwent FAPP testing were enrolled. Patient data, FAPP results, conventional microbiological testing results, and the real-world impact of FAPP results on antimicrobial therapy adjustments were assessed. Logistic regression was used to determine the predictive factors for bacterial detection by FAPP. ResultsAmong 592 respiratory specimens, including 564 (95.3%) endotracheal aspirate specimens, 19 (3.2%) expectorated sputum specimens and 9 (1.5%) bronchoalveolar lavage specimens, from 467 patients with HAP/VAP, FAPP testing yielded 368 (62.2%) positive results. Independent predictors for positive bacterial detection by FAPP included prolonged hospital stay (odds ratio [OR], 3.14), recent admissions (OR, 1.59), elevated C-reactive protein levels (OR, 1.85), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores (OR, 1.58), and septic shock (OR, 1.79). Approximately 50% of antimicrobial therapy for infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria and 58.4% for Gram-positive bacteria were adjusted or confirmed after obtaining FAPP results. ConclusionsThis study identified several factors predicting bacterial detection by FAPP in critically ill patients with HAP/VAP. More than 50% real-world clinical practices were adjusted or confirmed based on the FAPP results. Clinical algorithms for the use of FAPP and antimicrobial stewardship guidelines may further enhance its benefits.

Practice Versus Potential: The Impact of the BioFire FilmArray Pneumonia Panel on Antibiotic Use in Children.

The BioFire FilmArray Pneumonia Panel (BFPP), a multiplex PCR panel for the diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infections, has been proposed as a tool for antimicrobial stewardship. Few studies evaluate real-world implementation of the BFPP and no studies focus exclusively on children. Our institution implemented BFPP testing without restrictions. We conducted a retrospective cohort study in children hospitalized at St. Louis Children's Hospital to (1) characterize the use of the BFPP in pediatric patients and (2) assess how results impacted antibiotic use. We included all BFPP tests obtained during the first year after the introduction of the test, September 2021 through August 2022. The primary outcome was change in antibiotic therapy within 24 hours of results, which was compared to the potential change in antibiotic therapy determined by two infectious diseases clinicians. One hundred sixty-nine tests from 126 patients were included. Nine patients were immunocompromised and 19 had chronic tracheostomy. The majority of tests were sent from tracheal aspirate specimens (92%) and from patients in an intensive care unit (94%). Only 51% of tests were obtained due to respiratory failure or suspected pneumonia. For 80% of test results, there was potential to change antibiotics, but change occurred in only 46% of tests in practice. Antibiotic escalation was more common (26%) than de-escalation (15%) or discontinuation (4.1%). In a cohort of pediatric patients tested with the BFPP, the majority of tests were sent from tracheal aspirates and less than half of tests were associated with a change in antibiotics.

Optimized Antibiotic Management of Critically Ill Patients with Severe Pneumonia Following Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction Testing: A Prospective Clinical Exploratory Trial.

Molecular diagnostic testing is assumed to enable fast respiratory pathogen identification and contribute to improved pneumonia management. We set up a prospective clinical trial at a tertiary hospital intensive care unit including adult patients suspected of severe pneumonia from whom a lower respiratory tract sample could be obtained. During control periods (CPs), routine testing was performed, and during intervention periods (IPs), this testing was completed with the FilmArray Pneumonia Panel plus test (FA-PNEU) executed 24/7. The main objective was to measure the impact of FA-PNEU results in terms of reduced time to targeted antimicrobial treatment administration. Over a 10-month period, analysis was performed on 35 CP and 50 IP patients. The median time to targeted antimicrobial treatment administration was reduced to 4.3 h in IPs compared to 26.4 h in CPs, with 54% of IP patients having FA-PNEU results that led to a treatment modification, of which all but one were targeted. Modifications included 10 (37%) de-escalations, 7 (25.9%) escalations, 3 (11.1%) regimen switches, and 7 (25.9%) complete antimicrobial discontinuations. FA-PNEU results were available with a 42.3 h gain compared to routine identification. This prospective study confirmed retrospective data demonstrating the benefit of FA-PNEU testing in severe pneumonia management of critically ill patients through improved antimicrobial use.

Impact of BioFire FilmArray Multiplex PCR in the Detection of Microbial Agents causing Severe Acute Respiratory Infection in the COVID-19 Era: A Cross-sectional Study from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Central India

Introduction: Many viral and bacterial respiratory tract infections can present with respiratory signs and progress to complicated pneumonia. In the recent Coronavirus Disease2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, it is crucial to test all Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) patients for other microbial infections in addition to COVID-19, enabling timely diagnosis and treatment to reduce morbidity and mortality. The automated system, BioFire FilmArray, utilises multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to rapidly detect and identify multiple respiratory pathogens, including selected Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) genes, within an hour. Aim: To detect bacterial and/or viral pathogens associated with hospitalised COVID-19-negative SARI patients using the BioFire FilmArray Pneumonia Panel (BFPP). Materials and Methods: This laboratory-based cross-sectional study was conducted at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Nagpur, Maharashtra, India, from June 2020 to February 2021. Respiratory samples, such as sputum, tracheal aspirate, Endotracheal (ET) secretions, and Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL), were collected from COVID-19-negative hospitalised SARI cases. A total of 81 patients were included in the study. The samples were tested using the BFPP (multiplex PCR) system and processed using conventional culture techniques. Patient characteristics, clinical and laboratory investigation data, and findings of respiratory viral and bacterial agents, as well as antibiotic resistance genes detected by BioFire FilmArray, were recorded using paper case reports. The data were collected and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Results: Out of the 81 clinical samples processed, the BFPP detected 168 bacterial and 18 viral pathogens. Bacterial-viral codetection was observed in 13 (16%) samples. Atypical bacteria were detected in 3% of cases. Among the bacterial pathogens, the AMR gene for New Delhi Metallo-beta-lactamases (NDM) was detected in 42 (25.9%) cases, followed by CTX-M betalactamases, VIM, and the oxacillinase group of β-lactamases. Conclusion: The BFPP test is a valuable tool for the rapid detection of a wide range of pathogens, including associated AMR genes, with high sensitivity and specificity. This can greatly aid in treatment decisions.

Evaluation and clinical practice of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes of BioFire FilmArray Pneumonia panel in lower respiratory tract infections

BackgroundExisting panels for lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are slow and lack quantification of important pathogens and antimicrobial resistance, which are not solely responsible for their complex etiology and antibiotic resistance. BioFire FilmArray Pneumonia (PN) panels may provide rapid information on their etiology.MethodsThe bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of 187 patients with LRTIs was simultaneously analyzed using a PN panel and cultivation, and the impact of the PN panel on clinical practice was assessed. The primary endpoint was to compare the consistency between the PN panel and conventional microbiology in terms of etiology and drug resistance, as well as to explore the clinical significance of the PN panel. The secondary endpoint was pathogen detection using the PN panel in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) or hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP).ResultsFifty-seven patients with HAP and 130 with CAP were included. The most common pathogens of HAP were Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae, with the most prevalent antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes being CTX-M and KPC. For CAP, the most common pathogens were Haemophilus influenzae and Staphylococcus aureus, with the most frequent AMR genes being CTX-M and VIM. Compared with routine bacterial culture, the PN panel demonstrated an 85% combined positive percent agreement (PPA) and 92% negative percent agreement (NPA) for the qualitative identification of 13 bacterial targets. PN detection of bacteria with higher levels of semi-quantitative bacteria was associated with more positive bacterial cultures. Positive concordance between phenotypic resistance and the presence of corresponding AMR determinants was 85%, with 90% positive agreement between CTX-M-type extended-spectrum beta-lactamase gene type and phenotype and 100% agreement for mecA/C and MREJ. The clinical benefit of the PN panel increased by 25.97% compared with traditional cultural tests.ConclusionThe bacterial pathogens and AMR identified by the PN panel were in good agreement with conventional cultivation, and the clinical benefit of the PN panel increased by 25.97% compared with traditional detection. Therefore, the PN panel is recommended for patients with CAP or HAP who require prompt pathogen diagnosis and resistance identification.

559. Results of the implementation of a molecular pneumonia panel at a hospital in the Dominican Republic: expanding the scope of detection and management

Abstract Background Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) have been associated to significant morbidity and mortality. Conventional microbiology methods often fail to identify the etiological agent due to lack of sensitivity or viral or fastidious pathogens. Pneumonia molecular diagnostics is able to expand the scope of pathogens detected, therefore, we describe our experience in the incorporation of this method, the difference in etiological identification and clinical decision making. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of 75 patients with Filmarray pneumonia panel from November 2020 to September 2022. We described demographics, co-morbid conditions, outcomes and correlation with standard cultures in patients who were admitted with LRTI at the Hospital General de la Plaza de la Salud, a 289-bed tertiary teaching hospital in the Dominican Republic. Results Amongst the 75 patients, 56.6% were male and the average age was 51 years old. The most common comorbidities were diabetes mellitus (81.6%), hypertension (40.8%) and nephropathy (10.5%). The panels had a positivity rate of 74.6% (56/75) versus a 35% (14/40) seen in cultures. The most frequent microbial targets detected were S. aureus (18%), P. aeruginosa (14,3%) and K. pneumoniae group (10%) and at least one antimicrobial resistance gene was detected in 50% (28/56), distributed as MecA/C and MREJ (35%), CTX-M (38%), KPC (10%), NDM (10%), VIM (8%), IMP (8%) and OXA-48 like (3%). A positive culture was most likely to occur when the number of copies/mL in the panel was ≥ 10˄5 (p-value < 0.001). A viral target was detected in 21 patients (28%) alone or coinfecting with a bacterial agent. Conclusion Not only did the pneumonia panels allow an earlier detection of the etiological agent, but they also identified more pathogens compared to cultures. This enabled targeted management by reducing the unnecessary use of antimicrobials as well as activating infection control measures when necessary (i.e Influenza). The results seen in this study, along with the expanded scope of pathogens detected, will definitely serve as an update into our current LRTI hospital guidelines. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

562. Diagnostic accuracy comparison of the Biofire Filmarray pneumonia panel versus routine diagnostic methods for diagnosis of ventilator associated pneumonia: a real life study

Abstract Background In Mexico, the Hospital Epidemiological Surveillance Network previously the COVID-19 pandemic, reported a total of 61,969 health care associated infections with an incidence rate of 4.7 per 100 discharges, 20.7% of which were categorized as ventilator associated pneumonia. Biofire Filmarray pneumonia panel has been accepted as a tool for early and rapid diagnostic of pneumonia with recognition of several hospital acquired pathogens including resistant genes. However, there are some mismatch in the multiplex PCR detection and the culture isolation. Methods An observational, comparative, retrospective, non-randomized, cross-sectional, open study was performed using files from patients diagnosed with ventilator associated pneumonia who underwent diagnostic testing on culture and PCR multiplex FilmArray pneumonia panel to determine diagnostic accuracy. Intensive care unit files from August 2021 to February 2022 with ventilator associated pneumonia with airway samples for Filmarray pneumonia panel and cultures. Evaluation of the used diagnostic tests was carried out using: sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value. Results 55 patients were included, each of them with both test. 72% of the study population were males, with a mean age of 61 years. 76% of the population had severe COVID-19. E.Coli had 100% sentitivity and 96% specificity , P. aeruginosa 100% sentitivity and 88% specificity, E.Cloacae 100% sentitivity and 91% specificity, and S. aureus had 100% sentitivity and 89% specificity on Biofire Filmarray pneumonia panel. While K. pneumoniae had 50% sensitivity and 89% specificity. NPV was 98% for K. pneumoniae, and 100% for E. coli, P. aeruginosa, E. cloacae, and S. aureus. S.maltophilia was isolated in 3 culture samples and the Filmarray pneumonia panel was reported negative because lacking of testing this microorganism, as well as 1 A. fumigatus isolation. Samples for cultures and Biofire FilmArray pneumonia panel The different samples that were included from 55 patients in this study correlated with pneumonia panel and conventional cultures. PCR Biofire FilmArray pneumonia panel diagnostic study evaluation Each of the microorganism that had correlation between Filmarray pneumonia panel compared with conventional cultures Conclusion Biofire Filmarray pneumonia panel provides early and accurate information on pathogens causing ventilator associated pneumonia. However it cannot replace conventional culture because of lacking of some microorganism detection. It provides a useful tool for early decision-making in treatment. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Use of multiplex PCR in pleural effusion: is it necessary to change the paradigm of culture-based methods?

The microbiological diagnosis of pleural effusion is based largely on classical microbiology methods, but these methods have a high rate of false negative results. Some previous studies have shown improved diagnostic performance for pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae using molecular biology methods. We present the use of a multiplex PCR platform (BIOFIRE FILMARRAY Pneumonia Panel) for the aetiological diagnosis of pleural effusion in paediatric pneumonia. We present a case series of 17 pleural fluid samples that were processed by culture-based microbiology and molecular biology methods. Microbiological isolation was successful in four cases (25 %) through traditional culture methods. In contrast, the molecular biology panels allowed for detection in 16 out of 17 cases (94 %). The results from these panels led to a change in management for nine out of the 17 cases (52 %). This study found an increase in aetiological diagnosis in complicated pneumonia in children by using molecular biology methods, which led to a significant change in patient management.

The diagnostic utility of microscopic quality assessment of sputum samples in the era of rapid syndromic PCR testing.

This prospective study assessed the value of initial microscopy evaluation of sputum samples submitted for rapid syndromic PCR-based testing. Bacterial detections by the BioFire FilmArray Pneumonia Panel plus in 126 high- and 108 low-quality sputum samples, based on initial microscopy evaluation in samples from patients with lower respiratory tract infections were compared. We found that high-quality samples had a higher proportion of bacterial detections compared to low-quality samples (P = 0.013). This included a higher proportion of detections of bacteria deemed clinically relevant by predefined criteria (70% and 55%, P = 0.016), as well as a higher proportion of detections of Haemophilus influenzae (36% and 20%, P = 0.010). High-quality samples also had more detections of bacteria with high semi-quantitative values. The study found no significant difference between high- and low-quality samples in the proportions of samples with a single species of bacteria detected, samples with a bacteria treated by the clinician, samples with detection of a proven etiology of community-acquired pneumonia by predefined criteria, the number of bacterial species detected, or the detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis, or Staphylococcus aureus. The results showed that 40% (95% CI 35%-47%) of the bacterial detections would have been missed if only high-quality samples were analyzed. This included 41% (27%-56%) of detections of S. pneumoniae, 33% (23%-45%) of detections of H. influenzae, 42% (28%-58%) of detections of S. aureus, and 37% (23%-54%) of detections of M. catarrhalis. These findings suggest that all sputum samples submitted for rapid syndromic PCR testing should be analyzed, regardless of initial microscopy quality assessment. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT04660084.) IMPORTANCE Microscopic quality assessment of sputum samples was originally designed for sputum culture, and its applicability in today's workflow, which includes syndromic PCR testing, may differ. Addressing this crucial gap, our study emphasizes the need to optimize the use and workflow of syndromic PCR panels, like the BioFire FilmArray Pneumonia plus (FAP plus), in microbiology laboratories. These advanced PCR-based tests offer rapid and comprehensive pathogen detection for respiratory infections, yet their full potential remains uncertain. By comparing bacterial detections in high- and low-quality sputum samples, we underscore the importance of including low-quality samples in testing. Our findings reveal a significant proportion of potentially clinically relevant bacterial detections that would have been missed if only high-quality samples were analyzed. These insights support the efficient implementation of syndromic PCR panels, ultimately enhancing patient care and outcomes.

Supporting Clinical Decisions with Rapid Molecular Diagnostic Pneumonia Panel in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: Single Center Experience in Turkiye.

Lower respiratory tract infections are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide. It is crucial to promptly conduct diagnostic investigations in order to determine the microbiological cause of pneumonia, since this is necessary to ensure the appropriate delivery of antibiotic therapy to each individual patient. We evaluated the results of a rapid molecular diagnostic pneumonia panel in children with LRTI in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Rapid molecular diagnostic pneumonia panel (BioFire®, FilmArray Pneumonia Panel plus; FA-PP) findings (71 results from 46 children) in a tertiary care PICU between 2019 and 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. At least one bacterial pathogen was detected in 57 cases. A total of 77% of children had underlying conditions. A total of 70.4% of children needed invasive mechanical ventilation and 54.4% had ventilator-associated pneumonia. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (50.8%), Acinetobacter calcoaceticus baumannii complex (42%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (38.6%) were the most common pathogens detected with the FA-PP. Of the 33 cases diagnosed with VAP, more than one pathogen was identified in 65.9% of cases, with the most commonly identified bacteria being K. pneumoniae (43.1%), P. aeruginosa (38.6%), and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus baumannii complex (31.8%). According to the FA-PP results, the same antibiotic therapy was continued in 39.4% of cases, escalated in 54.5%, and de-escalated in 6.1%. The utilization of the FA-PP has some beneficial effects, including more prompt delivery of findings compared to conventional approaches. Additionally, this approach enables the identification of resistance profiles in children diagnosed with pneumonia in the PICU. Consequently, these test results facilitate the organization of antibiotic treatment strategies, including escalation and de-escalation approaches. The detection of resistance patterns was exclusively determined via the implementation of molecular testing, prompting a reevaluation of the isolation technique in accordance with the obtained data.

Evaluation of the clinical relevance of the Biofire© FilmArray pneumonia panel among hospitalized patients.

Panel PCR tests provide rapid pathogen identification. However, their diagnostic performance is unclear. We assessed the performance of the Biofire© FilmArray pneumonia (PN)-panel against standard culture in broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) samples. Setting: University Hospital Basel (February 2019 to July 2020), including hospitalized patients with a BAL (± pneumonia). We determined sensitivity and specificity of the PN-panel against standard culture. Using univariate logistic regression, we calculated odds ratios (OR) for pneumonia according to PN-panel and culture status, stratifying by chronic pulmonary disease. We calculated ORs for pneumonia for different pathogens to estimate the clinical relevance. We included 840 adult patients, 60% were males, median age was 68years, 35% had chronic pulmonary disease, 21% had pneumonia, and 36% had recent antibiotic use. In 1078 BAL samples, bacterial pathogens were detected in 36% and 16% with PN-panel and culture, respectively. The overall sensitivity and specificity of the PN-panel was high, whereas the positive predictive value was low. The OR of pneumonia was 1.1 (95% CI 0.7-1.6) for PN-panel-positive only; 2.6 (95% CI 1.3-5.3) for culture-positive only, and 1.6 (95% CI 1.0-2.4) for PN-panel and culture-positive. The detection rate of Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Moraxella catarrhalis in the PN-panel was high but not associated with pneumonia. While sensitivity and specificity of PN-panel are high compared to culture, pathogen detection did not correlate well with a pneumonia diagnosis. Patients with culture-positive BAL had the highest OR for pneumonia-thus the impact of the PN-panel on clinical management needs further evaluation in randomized controlled trials.

Diagnostic accuracy of the BioFire® FilmArray® pneumonia panel in COVID-19 patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia

BackgroundVentilator-Associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients in lower-and-middle-income settings, where timely access to emergency care and accurate diagnostic testing is not widely available. Therefore, rapid microbiological diagnosis is essential to improve effective therapy delivery to affected individuals, preventing adverse outcomes and reducing antimicrobial resistance.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study of patients with suspected VAP and COVID-19, evaluating the diagnostic performance of the BioFire® FilmArray® Pneumonia Panel (FA-PP). Respiratory secretion samples underwent standard microbiological culture and FA-PP assays, and the results were compared.ResultsWe included 252 samples. The traditional culture method detected 141 microorganisms, and FA-PP detected 277, resulting in a sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 60%, with a positive predictive value of 68% and negative predictive value of 93%. In samples with high levels of genetic material (> 10^5 copies/mL), the panel had a sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 86%. In addition, 40% of the culture-negative samples had positive FA-PP® results, of which 35% had > 10^5 copies/mL of genetic material. The most prevalent bacteria were Gram-negative bacilli, followed by Gram-positive cocci. The panel identified 98 genes associated with antimicrobial resistance, predominantly extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (28%).ConclusionThe FA-PP is a sensitive assay for identifying bacteria causing VAP in patients with COVID-19, with a greater capacity to detect bacteria than the conventional method. The timely microbiological recognition offered by this panel could lead to optimized decision-making processes, earlier tailored treatment initiation, and improved antibiotic stewardship practices.

Real-life Assessment of BioFire FilmArray Pneumonia Panel in Adults Hospitalized With Respiratory Illness.

Inability to identify the microbial etiology of lower respiratory tract infection leads to unnecessary antibiotic use. We evaluated the utility of the BioFire FilmArray Pneumonia Panel (BioFire PN) to inform microbiologic diagnosis. Hospitalized adults with respiratory illness were recruited; sputa and clinical/laboratory data were collected. Sputa were cultured for bacteria and tested with BioFire PN. Microbial etiology was adjudicated by 4 physicians. Bacterial polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was compared with culture and clinical adjudication. Of 298 sputa tested, BioFire PN detected significantly more pathogens (350 bacteria, 16 atypicals, and 164 viruses) than sputum culture plus any standard-of-care testing (91% vs 60%, P < .0001). When compared with culture, the sensitivity of BioFire PN for individual bacteria was 46% to 100%; specificity, 61% to 100%; and negative predictive value, 92% to 100%. Cases were adjudicated as viral (n = 58) and bacterial (n = 100). PCR detected bacteria in 55% of viral cases and 95% of bacterial (P < .0001). High serum procalcitonin and bacterial adjudication were more often associated with sputa with 106 or 107 copies detected. Multiplex PCR testing of sputa for bacteria is useful to rule out bacterial infection with added value to detect viruses and atypical bacteria.

Parapneumonic effusion in children: Rapid pathogen detection in pleural fluid using multiplex bacterial PCR.

Parapneumonic effusion in children: Rapid pathogen detection in pleural fluid using multiplex bacterial PCR.