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Updated: Nov 3, 2025
Author Spotlight: Advancing Rapid Detection of Respiratory Pathogens Using Microfluidic Chip
Published on: March 29, 2024
Rapid identification of bacteria from respiratory samples of patients hospitalized in intensive care units, with
François Caméléna1, Thibaut Poncin1, Emmanuel Dudoignon2
1Department of Bacteriology, Saint-Louis-Lariboisière Hospital Group, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France; University of Paris, INSERM 1137, IAME, Paris, France.
Objectives:
This study aimed to evaluate the performance of FilmArray Pneumonia Panel Plus (FA-PP) for the detection of typical bacterial pathogens in respiratory samples from patients hospitalized in intensive care units (ICUs).
Methods:
FA-PP was implemented for clinical use in the microbiology laboratory in March 2020. A retrospective analysis on a consecutive cohort of adult patients hospitalized in ICUs between March 2020 and May 2020 was undertaken. The respiratory samples included sputum, blind bronchoalveolar lavage (BBAL) and protected specimen brush (PSB). Conventional culture and FA-PP were performed in parallel.
Results:
In total, 147 samples from 92 patients were analysed; 88% had coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). At least one pathogen was detected in 46% (68/147) of samples by FA-PP and 39% (57/147) of samples by culture. The overall percentage agreement between FA-PP and culture results was 98% (93-100%). Bacteria with semi-quantitative FA-PP results ≥105 copies/mL for PSB samples, ≥106 copies/mL for BBAL samples and ≥107 copies/mL for sputum samples reached clinically significant thresholds for growth in 90%, 100% and 91% of cultures, respectively. FA-PP detected resistance markers, including mecA/C, blaCTX-M and blaVIM. The median turnaround time was significantly shorter for FA-PP than for culture.
Conclusions:
FA-PP may constitute a faster approach to the diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia in patients hospitalized in ICUs.
Insights
The FilmArray Pneumonia Panel Plus (FA-PP) offers a rapid and accurate method for detecting bacterial pneumonia in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. This molecular test shows high agreement with traditional culture methods, improving diagnostic speed.
Area of Science:
- Clinical microbiology
- Infectious disease diagnostics
- Molecular diagnostics
Background:
- Bacterial pneumonia is a common cause of mortality in intensive care units (ICUs).
- Rapid and accurate pathogen identification is crucial for effective treatment and improved patient outcomes.
- Traditional culture methods can be time-consuming, delaying appropriate antimicrobial therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic performance of the FilmArray Pneumonia Panel Plus (FA-PP) for bacterial pathogens.
- To compare FA-PP results with conventional culture methods in a cohort of ICU patients.
- To assess the utility of FA-PP in detecting antimicrobial resistance markers.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of respiratory samples (sputum, BBAL, PSB) from ICU patients.
- Parallel testing using FilmArray Pneumonia Panel Plus (FA-PP) and conventional culture.
- Analysis of pathogen detection rates, agreement between methods, and detection of resistance markers.
Main Results:
- FA-PP detected pathogens in 46% of samples, compared to 39% by culture.
- High overall agreement (98%) between FA-PP and culture results.
- FA-PP identified key resistance markers (mecA/C, blaCTX-M, blaVIM) and demonstrated significantly shorter turnaround times.
Conclusions:
- FA-PP provides a faster diagnostic approach for bacterial pneumonia in ICU patients.
- The panel accurately identifies common bacterial pathogens and resistance mechanisms.
- FA-PP can expedite the initiation of targeted antimicrobial therapy, potentially improving patient care.
