Multicenter evaluation of a PCR-based digital microfluidics and electrochemical detection system for the rapid identification of 15 fungal pathogens directly from positive blood cultures Journal Article


Authors: Zhang, S. X.; Carroll, K. C.; Lewis, S.; Totten, M.; Mead, P.; Samuel, L.; Steed, L. L.; Nolte, F. S.; Thornberg, A.; Reid, J. L.; Whitfiel, N. N.; Babady, N. E.
Article Title: Multicenter evaluation of a PCR-based digital microfluidics and electrochemical detection system for the rapid identification of 15 fungal pathogens directly from positive blood cultures
Abstract: Routine identification of fungal pathogens from positive blood cultures by culture-based methods can be time-consuming, delaying treatment with appropriate antifungal agents. The GenMark Dx ePlex investigational use only blood culture identification fungal pathogen panel (BCID-FP) rapidly detects 15 fungal targets simultaneously in blood culture samples positive for fungi by Gram staining. We aimed to determine the performance of the BCID-FP in a multicenter clinical study. Blood culture samples collected at 10 United States sites and tested with BCID-FP at 4 sites were compared to the standard-of-care microbiological and biochemical techniques, fluorescence in situ hybridization using peptide nucleic acid probes (PNAFISH) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Discrepant results were analyzed by bi-directional PCR/ sequencing of residual blood culture samples. A total of 866 clinical samples, 120 retrospectively and 21 prospectively collected, along with 725 contrived samples were evaluated. Sensitivity and specificity of detection of Candida species (C. albicans, C. auris, C. dubliniensis, C. famata, C. glabrata, C. guilliermondii, C. kefyr, C. krusei, C. lusitaniae, C. parapsilosis, and C. tropicalis) ranged from 97.1 to 100% and 99.8 to 100%, respectively. For the other organism targets, sensitivity and specificity were as follows: 100% each for Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii, 98.6% and 100% for Fusarium spp., and 96.2% and 99.9% for Rhodotorula spp., respectively. In 4 of the 141 clinical samples, the BCID-FP panel correctly identified an additional Candida species, undetected by standard-of-care methods. The BCID-FP panel offers a faster turnaround time for identification of fungal pathogens in positive blood cultures that may allow for earlier antifungal interventions and includes C. auris, a highly multidrug-resistant fungus. Copyright © 2020 Zhang et al.
Keywords: adult; major clinical study; sequence analysis; nonhuman; sensitivity and specificity; polymerase chain reaction; retrospective study; blood; fluorescence in situ hybridization; multicenter study; microfluidics; matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry; biochemistry; candida albicans; fungi; blood culture; candidemia; candida; cryptococcus; cryptococcus neoformans; electrochemical detection; candida glabrata; candida parapsilosis; candida tropicalis; clavispora lusitaniae; fungus identification; fusarium; nucleic acid probe; fungemia; candida dubliniensis; pichia kudriavzevii; human; male; female; priority journal; article; bloodstream infections; genmark; rhodotorula; candida auris; cryptococcus gattii; debaryomyces hansenii; kluyveromyces marxianus; meyerozyma guilliermondii
Journal Title: Journal of Clinical Microbiology
Volume: 58
Issue: 5
ISSN: 0095-1137
Publisher: American Society for Microbiology  
Date Published: 2020-05-01
Start Page: e02096-19
Language: English
DOI: 10.1128/jcm.02096-19
PUBMED: 32075904
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC7180249
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Ngolela Esther Babady
    171 Babady
  2. Peter A Mead
    11 Mead
  3. Shireen Lewis
    12 Lewis