Application of Multiplex Fluorescence Polymerase Chain Reaction for Detecting Pathogenic Bacteria in Sputum Samples from Patients with Lower Respiratory Tract Infection

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we conducted a multi-center research on six common lower respiratory tract pathogens using novel multiplex fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and investigated the additional diagnostic value of this method, to provide a molecular diagnostic basis for clinical practice. METHODS: From March 2019 to October 2021, a total of 2047 respiratory sputum samples were collected from Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital (the First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University), Hunan Provincial Children’s Hospital, Jiangxi Provincial Children’s Hospital, and Wuhan Infectious Disease Hospital. The samples were analyzed using a novel multiplex fluorescence quantitative PCR method for Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Legionella pneumophila, and Staphylococcus aureus. The results were compared to the results of bacterial culture and sequencing, as well as the results of third-party kits. RESULTS: Compared to the bacterial culture method, 2047 samples were detected with a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 72.22%, and an overall compliance rate of 81.91%. Compared to the sequencing method, the positive agreement percentage was 99.88%, the negative agreement percentage was 97.72%, and the overall agreement rate was 98.84%. Compared to similar control reagents, the positive agreement percentage was 100%, negative agreement percentage was 79.79%, and overall compliance rate was 96.19%. CONCLUSION: The multiplex fluorescence PCR method has the advantages of simultaneously detecting multiple pathogenic bacteria and reducing the duration of pathogen culture identification. Combined detection can increase the detection rate, which has favorable performance and application prospects.