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. 2016;29(13):2141-4.
doi: 10.3109/14767058.2015.1077223. Epub 2015 Aug 28.

Usefulness of a 16S rDNA real-time PCR to monitor neonatal sepsis and to assist in medical decision to discontinue antibiotics

Inês Stranieri  1 , Kelly Aparecida Kanunfre  2   3 , Jonatas Cristian Rodrigues  2   3 , Lidia Yamamoto  2 , Maria Isabel Valdomir Nadaf  4 , Patricia Palmeira  5   6 , Thelma Suely Okay  2
Affiliations

Usefulness of a 16S rDNA real-time PCR to monitor neonatal sepsis and to assist in medical decision to discontinue antibiotics

Inês Stranieri et al. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2016.

Abstract

Objective: To monitor the bacterial load in newborns with proven infections on the day of admission, 48 h and 7 days after treatment.

Methods: Real-time PCR (qPCR) targeting the 16S rDNA.

Results: The study recruited 17 newborns and the bacterial load was in general low (<50 CFU/mL). In three of four deaths, the bacterial load values increased, and in 11 of the 13 survivors the values decreased until the third evaluation.

Conclusion: Considering the extreme sensitivity and high negative predictive value of qPCR, this test could help to monitor the treatment of neonatal sepsis and to assist in medical decision to discontinue antibiotics.

Keywords: 16S rDNA; Bacterial load; neonatal sepsis; quantitative PCR; real time PCR.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Melting curve of the qPCR corresponding to the three time points. The full-term newborn (2T) with confirmed sepsis caused by S. agalactiae presented a bacterial load of 120.9 CFU/mL in the first sample evaluated (day 0 – blue lines). The bacterial loads at 48 h (purple lines) and on the seventh day (pink lines) were undetected.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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