16S Ribosomal RNA Gene PCR and Sequencing for Pediatric Infection Diagnosis, United States, 2020–2023

Gene PCR and sequencing using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) can help diagnose challenging bacterial infections. Data on the optimal clinical settings for this type of testing are limited. We performed a retrospective study at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA, with typically sterile specimens from...

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Main Authors: Guyu Li, Christopher A. Reis, Rebecca M. Kruc, Ziyuan Zhang, Nicholas T. Streck, Elizabeth H. Ristagno, Jay Mandrekar, Matthew J. Wolf, James T. Gaensbauer, Robin Patel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2025-05-01
Series:Emerging Infectious Diseases
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Online Access:https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/13/24-1101_article
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author Guyu Li
Christopher A. Reis
Rebecca M. Kruc
Ziyuan Zhang
Nicholas T. Streck
Elizabeth H. Ristagno
Jay Mandrekar
Matthew J. Wolf
James T. Gaensbauer
Robin Patel
author_facet Guyu Li
Christopher A. Reis
Rebecca M. Kruc
Ziyuan Zhang
Nicholas T. Streck
Elizabeth H. Ristagno
Jay Mandrekar
Matthew J. Wolf
James T. Gaensbauer
Robin Patel
author_sort Guyu Li
collection DOAJ
description Gene PCR and sequencing using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) can help diagnose challenging bacterial infections. Data on the optimal clinical settings for this type of testing are limited. We performed a retrospective study at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA, with typically sterile specimens from children that underwent 16S rRNA PCR testing during September 2020–December 2023. Of 162 tests performed on 124 patients, 20% were positive; 58% of positive samples were from culture-negative specimens. Fluid specimens were >3 times as likely to test positive as tissue specimens (odds ratio 3.07 [95% CI 1.32–7.11]; p = 0.007), and pleural fluid demonstrated the highest positivity rate (50%). Of 33 positive results, 4 (12%) specimens qualified for reporting to the state health department for communicable diseases. Those single-laboratory findings demonstrate that the highest positivity rate of 16S rRNA PCR and sequencing is pleural fluid, although many specimen types tested positive.
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series Emerging Infectious Diseases
spelling doaj-art-ee9d2a2e97254a45a101039fe3bb849c2025-08-20T01:50:18ZengCenters for Disease Control and PreventionEmerging Infectious Diseases1080-60401080-60592025-05-01311312913610.3201/eid3113.24110116S Ribosomal RNA Gene PCR and Sequencing for Pediatric Infection Diagnosis, United States, 2020–2023Guyu LiChristopher A. ReisRebecca M. KrucZiyuan ZhangNicholas T. StreckElizabeth H. RistagnoJay MandrekarMatthew J. WolfJames T. GaensbauerRobin Patel Gene PCR and sequencing using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) can help diagnose challenging bacterial infections. Data on the optimal clinical settings for this type of testing are limited. We performed a retrospective study at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA, with typically sterile specimens from children that underwent 16S rRNA PCR testing during September 2020–December 2023. Of 162 tests performed on 124 patients, 20% were positive; 58% of positive samples were from culture-negative specimens. Fluid specimens were >3 times as likely to test positive as tissue specimens (odds ratio 3.07 [95% CI 1.32–7.11]; p = 0.007), and pleural fluid demonstrated the highest positivity rate (50%). Of 33 positive results, 4 (12%) specimens qualified for reporting to the state health department for communicable diseases. Those single-laboratory findings demonstrate that the highest positivity rate of 16S rRNA PCR and sequencing is pleural fluid, although many specimen types tested positive. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/13/24-1101_article16S ribosomal RNAPCRsequencingbacteriabacterial infectionspediatrics
spellingShingle Guyu Li
Christopher A. Reis
Rebecca M. Kruc
Ziyuan Zhang
Nicholas T. Streck
Elizabeth H. Ristagno
Jay Mandrekar
Matthew J. Wolf
James T. Gaensbauer
Robin Patel
16S Ribosomal RNA Gene PCR and Sequencing for Pediatric Infection Diagnosis, United States, 2020–2023
Emerging Infectious Diseases
16S ribosomal RNA
PCR
sequencing
bacteria
bacterial infections
pediatrics
title 16S Ribosomal RNA Gene PCR and Sequencing for Pediatric Infection Diagnosis, United States, 2020–2023
title_full 16S Ribosomal RNA Gene PCR and Sequencing for Pediatric Infection Diagnosis, United States, 2020–2023
title_fullStr 16S Ribosomal RNA Gene PCR and Sequencing for Pediatric Infection Diagnosis, United States, 2020–2023
title_full_unstemmed 16S Ribosomal RNA Gene PCR and Sequencing for Pediatric Infection Diagnosis, United States, 2020–2023
title_short 16S Ribosomal RNA Gene PCR and Sequencing for Pediatric Infection Diagnosis, United States, 2020–2023
title_sort 16s ribosomal rna gene pcr and sequencing for pediatric infection diagnosis united states 2020 2023
topic 16S ribosomal RNA
PCR
sequencing
bacteria
bacterial infections
pediatrics
url https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/13/24-1101_article
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