Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Observational Study
. 2021 Dec 7;50(3):356-362.
doi: 10.1515/jpm-2021-0184. Print 2022 Mar 28.

Bacterial DNA detection in very preterm infants assessed for risk of early onset sepsis

Zbyněk Straňák  1   2 , Ivan Berka  1   2 , Peter Korček  1   2 , Jan Urbánek  1   2 , Táňa Lázničková  3 , Libor Staněk  3
Affiliations
Free article
Observational Study

Bacterial DNA detection in very preterm infants assessed for risk of early onset sepsis

Zbyněk Straňák et al. J Perinat Med. .
Free article

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic ability of multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in very preterm infants assessed for risk of early onset neonatal sepsis (EOS).

Methods: Prospective observational cohort study. Blood samples of preterm neonates ≤32 weeks of gestation were evaluated by commercial multiplex real-time PCR within 2 h after delivery. The definition of EOS was based on positive blood culture and clinical signs of infection or negative blood culture, clinical signs of infection and abnormal neonatal blood count and serum biomarkers.

Results: Among 82 subjects analyzed in the study, 15 had clinical or confirmed EOS. PCR was positive in four of these infants (including the only one with a positive blood culture), as well as in 15 of the 67 infants without sepsis (sensitivity 27%, specificity 78%). Out of 19 PCR positive subjects, Escherichia coli was detected in 12 infants (63%). Statistically significant association was found between vaginal E. coli colonization of the mother and E. coli PCR positivity of the neonate (p=0.001). No relationship was found between neonatal E. coli swab results and assessment findings of bacterial DNA in neonatal blood stream.

Conclusions: Multiplex real-time PCR had insufficient diagnostic capability for EOS in high risk very preterm infants. The study revealed no significant association between PCR results and the diagnosis of clinical EOS. Correlation between maternal vaginal swab results and positive PCR in the newborn needs further investigation to fully understand the role of bacterial DNA analysis in preterm infants.

Keywords: bacterial DNA; early onset sepsis; preterm infant; real-time PCR.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Fleischmann-Struzek, C, Goldfarb, DM, Schlattmann, P, Schlapbach, LJ, Reinhart, K, Kissoon, N. The global burden of paediatric and neonatal sepsis: a systematic review. Lancet Respir Med 2018;6:223–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2213-2600(18)30063-8.
    1. Molloy, EJ, Wynn, JL, Bliss, J, Koenig, JM, Keij, FM, McGovern, M, et al.. Neonatal sepsis: need for consensus definition, collaboration and core outcomes. Pediatr Res 2020;88:2–4. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-020-0850-5.
    1. Iroh Tam, PY, Bendel, CM. Diagnostics for neonatal sepsis: current approaches and future directions. Pediatr Res 2017;82:574–83. https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2017.134.
    1. Shane, AL, Sánchez, PJ, Stoll, BJ. Neonatal sepsis. Lancet 2017;390:1770–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(17)31002-4.
    1. Benitz, WE, Wynn, JL, Polin, RA. Reappraisal of guidelines for management of neonates with suspected early-onset sepsis. J Pediatr 2015;166:1070–4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2014.12.023.

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources