The use of PCR/Electrospray Ionization-Time-of-Flight-Mass Spectrometry (PCR/ESI-TOF-MS) to detect bacterial and fungal colonization in healthy military service members

BMC Infectious Diseases

Research Article

Garth Ehrlich¹  Tracy Spirk¹  Rachel Melton-Kreft¹  Elizabeth R. Schnaubelt²  Miriam L. Beckius³  Ryan Vetor³  Wendy Zera⁴  Katrin Mende⁴  Clinton K. Murray⁵  Todd J. Vento⁶  Joseph Wenke⁷  Charles Guymon⁷  Kevin S. Akers⁸ 

[1] Center for Genomic Sciences, Allegheny Singer Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA;Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany;San Antonio Military Medical Center, JBSA Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX, USA;San Antonio Military Medical Center, JBSA Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX, USA;Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA;San Antonio Military Medical Center, JBSA Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX, USA;Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA;San Antonio Military Medical Center, JBSA Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX, USA;Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA;Infectious Disease Service, (MCHE-MDI), Brooke Army Medical Center, 3551 Roger Brooke Drive, JBSA Fort Sam Houston, 78234, Texas, USA;US Army Institute of Surgical Research, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX, USA;Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA;US Army Institute of Surgical Research, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX, USA;

关键词: Colonization;    Bacterial;    Fungal;    Molecular diagnostics;    Military;    PCR;    Electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12879-016-1651-7

 received in 2015-11-23, accepted in 2016-06-07,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe role of microbial colonization in disease is complex. Novel molecular tools to detect colonization offer theoretical improvements over traditional methods. We evaluated PCR/Electrospray Ionization-Time-of-Flight-Mass Spectrometry (PCR/ESI-TOF-MS) as a screening tool to study colonization of healthy military service members.MethodsWe assessed 101 healthy Soldiers using PCR/ESI-TOF-MS on nares, oropharynx, and groin specimens for the presence of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria (GNB), fungi, and antibiotic resistance genes. A second set of swabs was processed by traditional culture, followed by identification using the BD Phoenix automated system; comparison between PCR/ESI-TOF-MS and culture was carried out only for GNB.ResultsUsing PCR/ESI-TOF-MS, at least one colonizing organism was found on each individual: mean (SD) number of organisms per subject of 11.8(2.8). The mean number of organisms in the nares, groin and oropharynx was 3.8(1.3), 3.8(1.4) and 4.2(2), respectively. The most commonly detected organisms were aerobic gram-positive bacteria: primarily coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (101 subjects: 341 organisms), Streptococcus pneumoniae (54 subjects: 57 organisms), Staphylococcus aureus (58 subjects: 80 organisms) and Nocardia asteroides (45 subjects: 50 organisms). The mecA gene was found in 96 subjects. The most commonly found GNB was Haemophilus influenzae (20 subjects: 21 organisms) and the most common anaerobe was Propionibacterium acnes (59 subjects). Saccharomyces species (30 subjects) were the most common fungi detected. Only one GNB (nares E. coli) was identified in the same subject by both diagnostic systems.ConclusionPCR/ESI-TOF-MS detected common colonizing organisms and identified more typically-virulent bacteria in asymptomatic, healthy adults. PCR/ESI-TOF-MS appears to be a useful method for detecting bacterial and fungal organisms, but further clinical correlation and validation studies are needed.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2016