Management Of Gastrointestinal Infections Research Articles

Assessment of the Clinical Utility of the FilmArrayTM Gastrointestinal Panel for Detecting Gastrointestinal Pathogens.

Gastrointestinal infections present a significant public health concern as they lead to diverse clinical presentations and healthcare challenges. The rapid and accurate identification of causative pathogens is imperative for effective patient management. This study aimed to assess the clinical utility of the FilmArrayTM Gastrointestinal (GI) Panel for detecting gastrointestinal pathogens. Between November 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023, we analysed gastrointestinal specimens collected from a cohort of patients aged 21 to 91 at Asia University Hospital. These specimens were analyzed using the FilmArrayTM GI Panel. The study included 76 patients for whom the FilmArrayTM GI assay was conducted, with 40 (52.6%) showing positive results. Among the positive specimens, 23 (57.5%) had a single pathogen, while the remaining 17 (42.5%) had multiple pathogens. The remaining 36 (47.4%) specimens showed no pathogens. The overall positivity rate of the specimens was 52.6%. The most frequently detected pathogens included Salmonella, Clostridium difficile (toxin A/B), and Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC). This study underscores the clinical value of the FilmArrayTM GI assay as a rapid and reliable tool for diagnosing gastrointestinal infections. Its capacity to detect multiple pathogens simultaneously enhances diagnostic accuracy and gives information to use in clinical decision-making. We strongly recommend its integration into clinical practice to expedite the diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal infections, ultimately leading to improved patient care and healthcare efficiency.

Enhancing enteric pathogen detection: implementation and impact of multiplex PCR for improved diagnosis and surveillance

BackgroundSyndromic surveillance of acute gastroenteritis plays a significant role in the diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal infections that are responsible for a substantial number of deaths globally, especially in developing countries. In Lebanon, there is a lack of national surveillance for acute gastroenteritis, and limited data exists regarding the prevalence of pathogens causing diarrhea. The one-year study aims to investigate the epidemiology of common gastrointestinal pathogens and compare our findings with causative agents of diarrhea reported by our study collaborative centers.MethodsA multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted over a one-year period. A total of 271 samples were obtained from outpatients and inpatients presenting with symptoms of acute gastroenteritis at various healthcare facilities. The samples were then analyzed using Allplex gastrointestinal assay that identifies a panel of enteric pathogens.ResultsOverall, enteropathogens were detected in 71% of the enrolled cases, 46% of those were identified in patients as single and 54% as mixed infections. Bacteria were observed in 48%, parasites in 12% and viruses in 11%. Bacterial infections were the most prevalent in all age groups. Enteroaggregative E. coli (26.5%), Enterotoxigenic E. coli (23.2%) and Enteropathogenic E. coli (20.3%) were the most frequently identified followed by Blastocystis hominis (15.5%) and Rotavirus (7.7%). Highest hospitalization rate occurred with rotavirus (63%), Enterotoxigenic E. coli (50%), Blastocystis hominis (45%) and Enteropathogenic E. coli (43%). Enteric pathogens were prevalent during summer, fall and winter seasons.ConclusionsThe adoption of multiplex real-time PCR assays in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal infections has identified gaps and improved the rates of detection for multiple pathogens. Our findings highlight the importance of conducting comprehensive surveillance to monitor enteric infections. The implementation of a syndromic testing panel can therefore provide healthcare professionals with timely and accurate information for more effective treatment and public health interventions.

The Impact of Gastrointestinal PCR on the Management of Gastrointestinal Infections in Immunocompromised Patients

Introduction: Gastrointestinal infections are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality throughout the world, particularly in the immunocompromised. Gastrointestinal PCR appears to be the technique of choice for establishing the molecular diagnosis of pathogenic gastrointestinal agents. The aim of this study was to establish the epidemiological, clinical and evolutionary profile of gastrointestinal infections and to study the impact of molecular diagnosis on the choice of a targeted therapy. Methods: This is a retrospective study carried out in the Microbiology Department of Arrazi Hospital of the Mohamed VI University Hospital Center, including all immunocompromised patients treated for a gastrointestinal infection and needing a hospitalization in the various departments, over a period of 15 months. Results: During the period studied, 124 patients were collected. The average age of the patients was 22 years. Signs of gastrointestinal infection were present in all patients. Of the patients sampled, 95.2% received probabilistic antibiotic therapy. Gastrointestinal infection has been documented in 57.26% of patients. A bacterial etiology was found in 76.81% of patients. A viral etiology was found in 13.04% of the patients and a parasitic etiology was found in 10.15% of the patients. Enteropathogenic E. coli was the most common infectious agent detected (19.53%). Co-infections were found in 29.84% of patients. Following PCR results, management was changed in 70 patients (56.45%), including initiation or modification of antibiotics in 40 patients (32.26%) and discontinuation of antibiotic therapy in 30 patients (24.19%). Conclusion: The diagnosis of gastrointestinal infections by multiplex PCR allowed us to provide optimal patient care with a reduction in the unnecessary use of antibiotics and an improvement in the course of care.