The use of molecular techniques for bacterial detection in the analysis of gastric aspirates collected from infants on the first day of life
Jones, V.
The use of molecular techniques for bacterial detection in the analysis of gastric aspirates collected from infants on the first day of life
NMUH Staff Publications 86
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US">Prospective service evaluation of the utility of molecularmethods to analyse neonatal gastric aspirate specimens in a single neonatalunit and associated maternity unit. 43 newborn infants investigated for sepsiswith median gestational age of 39 weeks (range 31-41 weeks) and median birthweight 3050 grams (range 1250-4220 g). Gastric aspirates routinely collectedwithin 12h of birth were analysed using conventional and molecular methods for bacterialdetection, bacterial DNA load and sequencing to identified bacterial species.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US">RESULTS: Bacterial DNA loads varied from 0.03 to 1736pg/microl of DNA extract (1 microl of DNA extract equivalent to 4 microl gastricaspirate). Bacteria were identified in 30/43 (70%) of samples by molecularmethods and 10/43 (23.3%) of samples by culture. Cultures were only positivewhen the bacterial DNA exceeded 4.5 pg/microl of extract. Infants withprolonged rupture of membranes (>24h prior to delivery) had a DNA load onaverage 23 times higher than those without (95%CI 3.7 to 141; p=0.001).Additional bacteria detected by molecular methods included many species thatare fastidious and potentially pathogenic including Leptotrichia spp., Serratiaspp., Ureaplasma spp., Veillonella spp., Haemophilus influenzae and Group BStreptococcus. Due to a low rate of adverse outcomes it was not possible tocorrelate bacterial identifications or DNA load with infant outcome.</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US">CONCLUSIONS: Molecular methods can identify bacteriafrom a greater proportion of gastric aspirate specimens that conventionalculture. Further work is required to establish whether this information can beused to improve infant outcomes.</span></p>
03783782
The use of molecular techniques for bacterial detection in the analysis of gastric aspirates collected from infants on the first day of life
NMUH Staff Publications 86
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US">Prospective service evaluation of the utility of molecularmethods to analyse neonatal gastric aspirate specimens in a single neonatalunit and associated maternity unit. 43 newborn infants investigated for sepsiswith median gestational age of 39 weeks (range 31-41 weeks) and median birthweight 3050 grams (range 1250-4220 g). Gastric aspirates routinely collectedwithin 12h of birth were analysed using conventional and molecular methods for bacterialdetection, bacterial DNA load and sequencing to identified bacterial species.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US">RESULTS: Bacterial DNA loads varied from 0.03 to 1736pg/microl of DNA extract (1 microl of DNA extract equivalent to 4 microl gastricaspirate). Bacteria were identified in 30/43 (70%) of samples by molecularmethods and 10/43 (23.3%) of samples by culture. Cultures were only positivewhen the bacterial DNA exceeded 4.5 pg/microl of extract. Infants withprolonged rupture of membranes (>24h prior to delivery) had a DNA load onaverage 23 times higher than those without (95%CI 3.7 to 141; p=0.001).Additional bacteria detected by molecular methods included many species thatare fastidious and potentially pathogenic including Leptotrichia spp., Serratiaspp., Ureaplasma spp., Veillonella spp., Haemophilus influenzae and Group BStreptococcus. Due to a low rate of adverse outcomes it was not possible tocorrelate bacterial identifications or DNA load with infant outcome.</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US">CONCLUSIONS: Molecular methods can identify bacteriafrom a greater proportion of gastric aspirate specimens that conventionalculture. Further work is required to establish whether this information can beused to improve infant outcomes.</span></p>
03783782