Evaluation of conventional and molecular methods in early detection of pathogens causing respiratory tract infections

Abstract

newlineRespiratory tract infections (RTIs) includes the upper and lower respiratory tract infections. Most common respiratory tract infections include Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, tuberculosis and pneumonia. LRTIs are most common leading cause of death globally. Death is due to inadequate empirical antibiotic therapy and drug resistant bacteria. In ICU (Intensive care unit), patients may be infected by bacteria and it may be either endogenous or exogenous origin. The common pathogens causing LRTI are: Klebsiellapneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacterbaumannii and these were listed as most common resistant pathogens by WHO. Tuberculosis disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis in India is one among the high burden countries responsible for more than 80% in the world prevalence of tuberculosis (WHO). The acute bronchitis and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) are most commonly caused by atypical pathogens like Legionella pneumophila, Chlamydia pneumonia and Mycoplasma pneumonia. They account for nearly 50% of atypical pneumonia infections. A Fungal spore which typically enters the lung by the process of inhalation, the spores reaches the lung through the bloodstream and thereby it causes fungal pneumonia. Viruses accounts for above 50% to 90% of LRTI. The early diagnosis of viruses are based on antigen detection followed by antibody detection and molecular analysis. Rapid identification of the infection causing organisms with their resistant genes may help to use the appropriate antibiotics (broad-spectrum) which is cost-effective. The present study was designed for accurate and rapid detection of pathogens and to initiate the appropriate anti-microbial therapy. This study highlights the molecular diagnostics- Multiplex PCR panel detection of RTI causing pathogens as highly sensitive and reliable. This study evaluated molecular diagnostic methods based on turnaround time in comparison with Conventional cultural methods for t