EVALUATION OF SEEPLEX PNEUMOBACTER MULTIPLEX PCR KIT FOR THE DETECTION OF COMMUNITY-ACQUIRED PNEUMONIA PATHOGENS AMONG OUT PATIENTS IN UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR TEACHING HOSPITAL, CALABAR

Edeh E.B., Alaribe A.A., Ogba O.M.*, Mandor B.I., Adat P.E., Nwaokorie F.O. and Obo U.U.

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Identification of bacterial etiologic agents promptly and correctly is crucial in the management of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). This study evaluates the analytical working effectiveness and clinical value of a PCR assay in identifying bacterial pathogens using Seeplex Pneumobacter multiplex PCR detection kit. Materials and Methods: Sputa from 120 clinically confirmed CAP out-patients aged between 5 and 75 years were analyzed by conventional culture. Fifty specimens were randomly selected from all the age groups and analyzed by multiplex PCR for the detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila, Haemophilus influenzae, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Bordetella pertussis and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Results: Forty two specimens (35%) were positive culturally, with Moraxella catarrhalis 20 (47.6%) being the most isolated organism. S. pneumoniae was the most detected CAP agent via PCR. Of the 50 specimens analyzed by multiplex PCR, 25(50%) were positive and S. pneumomiae, 21(42%) was the most detected organism. Comparing the 50 specimens evaluated using both methods: twenty one S. pneumoniae and (14) H. influenzae were detected via multiplex-PCR while none of these two organisms was isolated via culture. Conclusions: Seeplex pneumobacter multiplex PCR kit could be of great value for detecting the etiologic agents of CAP quite promptly and accurately.

Keywords: Community- acquired pneumonia, Culture, Microscopy, Multiplex- polymerase chain reaction, Streptococcus pneumoniae.