Diagnostic Accuracy of Bio Fire® Film Array® Pneumonia Panel for Detection of Viral and Bacterial Pathogenski in Lower Respiratory Specimens

Abstract

Introduction: Rapid diagnostic testing for pneumonia has the presume potential to guide clinical decisions in reducing the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. These benefits should

be dependent upon the accuracy of these test. In order to evaluate the diagnostic yield and accuracy of the BioFire® FilmArray® pneumonia panel (BFFA) for pathogens identification in lower respiratory tract specimens, we conduct this retrospective study in a intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: In this study were included all patients (n = 104) admitted in our ICU with pneumonia who underwent BFFA test, between December 2019 and March 2021. Lower respiratory tract samples were collected and analysed simultaneously with BFPP and microbiological culture, as part of standard-of-care testing. The BFFA panel includes for 18 bacteria and 8 virus, that commonly cause pneumonia as well 7 antibiotic resistance genes, identified from tracheal aspirate or bronchial alveolar lavage (BAL) specimens.

Results: This study included 104 patients, with an average age of 62 years. The BFFA was positive in 111/125 (88%) samples. The most common bacteria detected were Staphylococcus aureus (19%), Klebsiella pneumonia (14%) and Haemophilus influenza (10%).

Discussion: There was strong concordance between BFFA and culture for detection of bacteria. In fact, most bacteria (76/106 [72%]) detected by BFFA were also identified in culture. In other hand, it is relevant that only one negative BFPP had an isolated agent in the cultural exam.

Conclusion: Real-time specimen analysis with BFFA has the potential to identify bacterial and viral pathogens and theirs resistance markers, faster than traditional culture-based methods.

In fact, the BFFA is a rapid and accurate method for detection of pathogens from lower respiratory tract infections with a 72% sensitivity and 100% specificity, in our studied population.