Combining T2Bacteria and T2Candida Panels for Diagnosing Intra-Abdominal Infections: A Prospective Multicenter Study

Area of Science:

• Medical diagnostics
• Infectious disease research
• Microbiology

Background:

• Intra-abdominal infections (IAIs) are common in critically ill patients.
• Bloodstream infections (BSIs) often complicate IAIs, increasing morbidity and mortality.
• Rapid and accurate diagnostics are crucial for timely treatment of IAIs and BSIs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the performance of T2Bacteria and T2Candida assays in surgical patients with suspected IAIs.
• To compare the diagnostic accuracy of these assays against conventional blood cultures.
• To assess the utility of T2Bacteria in detecting culture-negative IAIs.

Main Methods:

• Prospective evaluation of T2Bacteria and T2Candida assays in 101 surgical patients.
• Parallel testing with standard blood cultures.
• Analysis of pathogen detection, including ESKAPE pathogens and Candida species.
• Correlation of assay results with clinical data and microbiological evidence from other sites.

Main Results:

• T2Bacteria correctly identified all 8 on-panel pathogens in 15 bacteremic patients.
• T2Bacteria detected infections in 19 additional patients, with 11 having supportive evidence (6 on antibiotics).
• T2Candida identified 2 candidemia cases and detected 7 additional positives, 3 confirmed as intra-abdominal candidiasis.
• Concurrent T2Bacteria and T2Candida positivity indicated mixed infections in 3 of 4 patients.

Conclusions:

• T2Bacteria and T2Candida offer rapid and accurate diagnosis of on-panel bloodstream infections.
• T2Bacteria demonstrates potential for diagnosing culture-negative intra-abdominal infections.
• These assays can aid in timely management of complex infections in intensive care settings.