RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The study evaluated the clinical efficacy of a multi-parameter real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for patients with central venous catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty five patients suspected to have CRBSI were enrolled. The SeptiFast(TM) (SF) multi-parameter real-time PCR test (Roche Diagnostics, Germany) and blood culture were performed and results were compared. RESULTS: The turn-around time for the SF test and blood culture was 32.6+/-28.9 hours and 115.8+/-23.5 hours, respectively. Among the 70 blood samples, the positive rates of SF test and blood culture were 34.3% and 27.1%, respectively, and the agreement rate was 62.9%. Gram-positive bacteria were detected in 10 patients with blood culture and 11 patients with SF test. Gram-negative bacteria were detected in one patient with a blood culture and in seven patients with SF test. Candida was not detected in blood culture but was detected in two patients by the SF test. CONCLUSIONS: SF test was faster and more sensitive for the detection of blood pathogens than blood culture. It provides a more sensitive detection of gram-negative and Candida in blood than does blood culture testing.