PCR-electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry: a new tool for the diagnosis of infective endocarditis from heart valves

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2013 Jun;76(2):125-8. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2013.02.007. Epub 2013 Mar 22.

Abstract

A polymerase chain reaction with an injection of the amplicons in an electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (PCR-ESI-MS) technique was evaluated for the diagnosis of bacterial and yeast pathogens on 13 cardiac valves with suspected endocarditis. At the moment of surgery, 3/13 PCR-ESI-MS results matched with microbiological documentation. Nine PCR-ESI-MS results correlated with Duke's criteria, leukocytes, C-reactive protein and blood cultures before surgery. The PCR-ESI-MS result of the last valve failed to confirm the blood culture result obtained fifteen days before. With speed and accuracy, this method may be useful to assert microbiological identification and adapt treatment.

MeSH terms

  • C-Reactive Protein / analysis
  • Candida / growth & development
  • Candida / isolation & purification
  • Cardiobacterium / growth & development
  • Cardiobacterium / isolation & purification
  • DNA, Bacterial / isolation & purification
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / diagnosis*
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / microbiology
  • Female
  • Heart Valves / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pilot Projects
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Propionibacterium acnes / growth & development
  • Propionibacterium acnes / isolation & purification
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / methods*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / growth & development
  • Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification
  • Staphylococcus lugdunensis / growth & development
  • Staphylococcus lugdunensis / isolation & purification

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial
  • C-Reactive Protein