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Clinical impact of a gastrointestinal PCR panel in children with infectious diarrhoea

Jeanne Truong1,2, Aurélie Cointe3,4, Enora Le Roux5,6

  • 1General Paediatrics, Robert Debré University Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France jeanne.truong09@gmail.com.

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|December 18, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Multiplex gastrointestinal PCR (GI-PCR) significantly altered medical management for nearly a quarter of children with infectious diarrhea. This rapid diagnostic tool improved antibiotic treatment decisions before stool culture results were available.

Area of Science:

  • Clinical microbiology
  • Infectious diseases
  • Pediatric gastroenterology

Background:

  • Multiplex gastrointestinal PCR (GI-PCR) offers rapid, simultaneous detection of 22 enteric pathogens.
  • The clinical utility of GI-PCR in managing pediatric infectious diarrhea remains understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of GI-PCR on the medical management of children presenting with infectious diarrhea.
  • To assess changes in treatment, including antibiotic prescriptions, following GI-PCR results.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective monocentric study included children eligible for stool culture.
  • GI-PCR was performed on all stool samples, with data collected on management before and after results.
  • Stool culture results were also reported for comparison.

Main Results:

  • GI-PCR identified pathogens in 70% of 172 included children, with common findings including enteroaggregative E. coli, enteropathogenic E. coli, Shigella/EIEC, and Campylobacter.
  • GI-PCR detected more pathogens compared to stool cultures for several key bacteria.
  • Medical management was revised for 23% of patients based on GI-PCR results, influencing antibiotic prescriptions, hospitalizations, and isolation decisions.

Conclusions:

  • GI-PCR results significantly impacted medical management for a substantial proportion of children with gastroenteritis.
  • The study highlights GI-PCR's role in guiding appropriate antibiotic therapy earlier in the diagnostic process.
Abstract

Keywords:
gastroenterologyinfectious disease medicinemicrobiologymolecular biologypaediatrics

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