Rapid Point-of-Care PCR Testing of Drug-Resistant Strains on Endotracheal Aspirate Samples: A Repurposed Effective Tool in the Stepwise Approach of Healthcare-Acquired Pneumonia—A Pilot Study

Healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) is a common nosocomial infection with high morbidity and mortality. Culture-based detection of the etiologic agent and drug susceptibility is time-consuming, potentially leading to the inadequate use of broad-spectrum empirical antibiotic regimens. The aim was to evaluate the diagnostic capabilities of rapid point-of-care multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays from the endotracheal aspirate of critically ill patients with HCAP. A consecutive series of 29 intensive care unit (ICU) patients with HCAP and a control group of 28 patients undergoing elective surgical procedures were enrolled in the study. The results of the PCR assays were compared to the culture-based gold standard. The overall accuracy of the PCR assays was 95.12%, with a sensitivity of 92.31% and a specificity of 97.67%. The median time was 90 min for the rapid PCR tests (p < 0.001), while for the first preliminary results of the cultures, it was 48 h (46–72). The overall accuracy for rapid PCR testing in suggesting an adequate antibiotic adjustment was 82.98% (95% CI 69.19–92.35%), with a specificity of 90% (95% CI 55.50–99.75%), a positive predictive value of 96.77% (95% CI 83.30–99.92%), and a negative predictive value of 56.25 (95% CII 29.88–80.25%). This method of rapid point-of-care PCR could effectively guide antimicrobial stewardship in patients with healthcare-acquired pneumonia.