Rapid Identification of Microbial Pathogens in Intra-abdominal Infections Using Multiplex PCR

This prospective observational study evaluates a rapid multiplex PCR system (Unyvero A50, Curetis) as an adjunct to conventional microbiological culture (cMB) in adult patients undergoing surgery for suspected hollow viscus perforation or peritonitis. During surgery, two intra-abdominal peritoneal fluid samples will be collected. One sample will be processed by routine aerobic and anaerobic culture at the microbiology laboratory. The second sample will be analyzed postoperatively using multiplex PCR at the surgical intensive care unit according to the manufacturer's instructions.

The study will compare turnaround time and concordance of pathogen detection between multiplex PCR and cMB. Additional descriptive analyses will include pathogen group distributions, polymicrobial findings, and results by anatomical site of perforation. Resistance markers detected by PCR will be recorded descriptively. Invalid PCR results will be documented and excluded from paired analyses.

Inclusion criteria

• suspected hollow organ perforation
• suspected peritonitis
• patient underwent surgical treatment
• microbiological testing of intra-abdominal fluid was needed

Exclusion criteria

• patient in moribund conditions
• patient already enrolled in an interventional clinical trial
• patient under 18