Diagnostic Detection of Intended Bacteria Associated with Respiratory Tract Infections Among Kelantanese Malaysian Hajj Pilgrims by a Ready-to-use, Thermostable Multiplex PCR Assay

Overview

Journal Saudi J Biol Sci

Specialty Biology

Date 2022 Jul 8

PMID 35800141

Authors

Nik Mohd Noor Nik Zuraina

Habsah Hasan

Suharni Mohamad

Siti Suraiya

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Bacterial respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are prone to be associated with serious health problems during the annual Hajj pilgrimage and are a public health concern due to the potential of pathogens transmission across continents. This study aimed to perform a diagnostic screening of intended bacteria associated with RTIs among Malaysian Hajj pilgrims by using a newly developed PCR assay. Expectorated sputum specimens ( = 202) and sociodemographic characteristics of the returning Hajj pilgrims were collected upon arrival in Kelantan, Malaysia. Diagnostic screening of bacterial respiratory pathogens was performed using a thermostabilized multiplex PCR assay in parallel with the sputum culture. Of the six intended bacteria: and the sputum specimens were found positive for ( = 139), ( = 20), and ( = 19) by the multiplex PCR assay. The sensitivity, specificity, positive- and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) of this assay were 100% (95% confidence interval (CI): 97.85% to 100.00%), 92.23% (95% CI: 85.27% to 96.59%), 95.51% (95% CI: 91.61% to 97.64%) and 100.00%, respectively. The accuracy of this assay was 97.07% (95% CI: 94.31% to 98.73%). Overall, was found to be the predominant organism in the pilgrims' sputa by both molecular and microbial culture methods. The multiplex PCR assay would enable a simple, faster and reliable means for the massive screening of intended bacteria compared to the sputum culture, especially during the Hajj pilgrimage.

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