Real-Time PCR and Quantitative Culture for Load in Pharyngeal Swabs from Children at Preliminary Diagnosis and Discharge.

BACKGROUND

Extensive studies have focused on the diagnosis and treatment of infection; however, rare studies investigated the posttreatment conditions. We analyzed the carrying status of in the respiratory tract of children before and after treatment.

METHODS

Ninety-two children with pneumonia were included in this study. Clinical data were obtained from each patient, and pharyngeal swab sampling was performed at preliminary diagnosis and discharge. Real-time PCR and dilution quantitative culture were utilized to determine the DNA quantification and number of viable from samples collected upon preliminary diagnosis and discharge.

RESULTS

All the 92 cases showed DNA positivity upon preliminary diagnosis, serum IgM antibody was detected in 80 patients, and positivity of culture was observed in 82 cases. Upon discharge, the nucleotide and culture positivity were detected in 87 and 49 cases, respectively. The content of viable was 10-10 CCU/mL and 10-10 CCU/mL in the preliminary diagnosis samples and discharge samples, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Real-time PCR was rapid and effective for the qualitative diagnosis of at the early stage, but it cannot be used to evaluate the prognosis of patients with infection. Quantitative analysis for DNA could not directly reflex the viable strain content.