RAPID DIAGNOSIS OF BACTERIAL PNEUMONIA AGENTS WITH REAL TIME MULTIPLEX PCR

Abstract

Introduction: Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common infectious disease that is associated with high treatment costs and mortality rates that vary between 4% and 50%. Culture and serological tests are the most commonly used means of determining of the etiology of CAP, although no agents are identified in almost 50% of cases. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods developed in recent years allow for both the rapid diagnosis and identification of the causative agent in up to 87% of cases. In the present study, we investigate bacterial CAP agents in pleura fluid samples obtained from pleuritic patients based on no growth in cultures.