Clinical evaluation of polymerase chain reaction coupled with quantum dot fluorescence analysis in the identification of bacteria and yeasts in patients with suspected bloodstream infections

Bloodstream infections are serious and complex infectious diseases that often require a rapid diagnosis. Polymerase chain reaction coupled with quantum dot fluorescence analysis (PCR‐QDFA) is a novel diagnostic technique. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of PCR‐QDFA for pathogen detection in patients with suspected bloodstream infections (BSIs). It evaluates 29 kinds of common pathogens (24 bacteria and 5 yeasts) from blood culture bottles. The results of PCR‐QDFA identification and traditional microbial laboratory identification were compared, and the latter was used as the ‘gold standard’ to analyse the diagnostic performance of the PCR‐QDFA. In total, 517 blood culture bottles were included in this study. The PCR‐QDFA identified microorganisms in 368/422 (87.2%) samples with monomicrobial growth. For the pathogens on the PCR‐QDFA list, the assay showed a higher sensitivity of 97.4% (368/378). When polymicrobial growth was analysed, the PCR‐QDFA successfully detected 19/25 (76%) microorganisms on the PCR‐QDFA list. In addition, 82/82 negative blood culture bottles also showed no pathogens by PCR‐QDFA with a specificity of 100%. In conclusion, the PCR‐QDFA assay could identify a majority of the common pathogens encountered in clinical practice, showing excellent diagnostic performance for pathogen detection in patients with suspected BSIs.