Real-time broad-range PCR versus blood culture. A prospective pilot study in pediatric cancer patients with fever and neutropenia

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a pilot study, results of real-time broad-range (16S rRNA) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) performed on 45 blood samples of pediatric cancer patients with fever and neutropenia were compared with blood culture results. RESULTS: The PCR assay used, having proven a high sensitivity in artificially spiked blood samples, was positive in only three of ten blood culture-positive samples, and it was positive in 10 of 35 (29%) culture-negative samples. CONCLUSION: This broad-range PCR assay, which may identify not-grown bacteria potentially contributing to fever, needs improvement in sensitivity, and different reasons for positive PCR in negative blood culture samples need to be assessed before clinical application.