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Open AccessReview
Rapid Molecular Diagnostics of Pneumonia Caused by Gram-Negative Bacteria: A Clinician’s Review
by
Ionela-Anca Pintea-Simon
Ionela-Anca Pintea-Simon 1,2
,
Ligia Bancu
Ligia Bancu 2,*,
Anca Delia Mare
Anca Delia Mare 3,
Cristina Nicoleta Ciurea
Cristina Nicoleta Ciurea 3
,
Felicia Toma
Felicia Toma 3 and
Adrian Man
Adrian Man 3
1
Doctoral School of Medicine and Pharmacy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu Mures, 540142 Târgu Mures, Romania
2
Department of Internal Medicine M3, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu Mures, 540142 Târgu Mures, Romania
3
Department of Microbiology, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu Mureș, 540142 Târgu Mures, Romania
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Antibiotics 2024, 13(9), 805; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13090805 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 5 August 2024
/
Revised: 21 August 2024
/
Accepted: 24 August 2024
/
Published: 25 August 2024
Abstract
With approximately half a billion events per year, lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) represent a major challenge for the global public health. Among LRTI cases, those caused by Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) are associated with a poorer prognostic. Standard-of-care etiologic diagnostics is lengthy and difficult to establish, with more than half of cases remaining microbiologically undocumented. Recently, syndromic molecular diagnostic panels became available, enabling simultaneous detection of tens of pathogen-related and antimicrobial-resistance genetic markers within a few hours. In this narrative review, we summarize the available data on the performance of molecular diagnostics in GNB pneumonia, highlighting the main strengths and limitations of these assays, as well as the main factors influencing their clinical utility. We searched MEDLINE and Web of Science databases for relevant English-language articles. Molecular assays have higher analytical sensitivity than cultural methods, and show good agreement with standard-of-care diagnostics regarding detection of respiratory pathogens, including GNB, and identification of frequent patterns of resistance to antibiotics. Clinical trials reported encouraging results on the usefulness of molecular assays in antibiotic stewardship. By providing early information on the presence of pathogens and their probable resistance phenotypes, these assays assist in the choice of targeted therapy, in shortening the time from sample collection to appropriate antimicrobial treatment, and in reducing unnecessary antibiotic use.
Share and Cite
MDPI and ACS Style
Pintea-Simon, I.-A.; Bancu, L.; Mare, A.D.; Ciurea, C.N.; Toma, F.; Man, A.
Rapid Molecular Diagnostics of Pneumonia Caused by Gram-Negative Bacteria: A Clinician’s Review. Antibiotics 2024, 13, 805.
https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13090805
AMA Style
Pintea-Simon I-A, Bancu L, Mare AD, Ciurea CN, Toma F, Man A.
Rapid Molecular Diagnostics of Pneumonia Caused by Gram-Negative Bacteria: A Clinician’s Review. Antibiotics. 2024; 13(9):805.
https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13090805
Chicago/Turabian Style
Pintea-Simon, Ionela-Anca, Ligia Bancu, Anca Delia Mare, Cristina Nicoleta Ciurea, Felicia Toma, and Adrian Man.
2024. "Rapid Molecular Diagnostics of Pneumonia Caused by Gram-Negative Bacteria: A Clinician’s Review" Antibiotics 13, no. 9: 805.
https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13090805
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