Impact of Rapid Molecular Diagnostic Technique on Time to Optimal Antimicrobial Therapy and Hospital Outcomes in Pediatric Cancer Patients with Sepsis

BACKGROUND: sepsis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric cancer patients. We sought to assess the impact of using rapid molecular diagnostic techniques on time to pathogen identification, early administration of targeted antimicrobial treatment, and hospital outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective study was conducted at the Egyptian National Cancer Institute (1/2018-1/2019) on pediatric cancer patients with suspected sepsis. The cohort was divided into two groups. In one group, blood samples were sent for rapid molecular detection [multiplex-Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)] and blood cultures (PCR-group). While only blood cultures were collected for the second group (BC-group). RESULTS: In the entire cohort (n=120), the most common bacteria identified on blood cultures was Escherichia Coli (n=33,27.5%) followed by Klebsiella (n=31,25.8%). Multidrug-resistant bacteria were identified in 63 patients (52.5%). The median turnaround time to initial results was 5 hours in PCR-group (n=60), and 120 hours in BC-group (n=60)(P<0.001). For PCR-group, agreement in pathogen identification between the rapid molecular detection kit (PCR) and blood cultures was noted in 56 patients (93.3%). While the remaining four patients had no bacterial growth on blood cultures. The empirical antibiotic treatment for the PCR-group was modified based on the result of the PCR test. Antibiotic shift, based on blood culture sensitivity results, was done in 29 patients (48%) in PCR-group, compared to 45 patients (75%) in BC-group (P=0.003). Median sepsis episode duration [8-days vs. 10-days,P=0.361), and hospital mortality (42% vs. 50%, P=0.360) were slightly lower in PCR-group. However, this did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: There was a substantial agreement in pathogen identification between the rapid molecular detection method (PCR) and blood culture results. PCR had a much shorter turnaround time, which allows for earlier start of optimal antimicrobial treatment, and might potentially improve hospital outcomes, which in turn will reduce associated health care costs.