Diagnostic Performance and Impact on Antimicrobial Treatment of a Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction in Critically Ill Patients With Pneumonia: A Multicenter Observational Study (The MORICUP-PCR Study: Morocco ICU Pneumonia-PCR study)
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: Managing severe pneumonia remains a challenge. Rapid diagnostic tests, such as multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR), facilitate quick microorganism identification and may enable timely and appropriate antimicrobial therapy. However, studies from low-income countries are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic characteristics of mPCR and its impact on antibiotic therapy and outcomes in critically ill patients with pneumonia. DESIGN: Multicenter observational study. SETTING: Twelve ICUs across Morocco. PATIENTS: Adult patients with pneumonia requiring invasive mechanical ventilation, including community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Respiratory samples were analyzed using both mPCR and conventional microbiological methods. The diagnostic performance of mPCR was evaluated, including its sensitivity and specificity. Additionally, the appropriateness of mPCR-induced modifications in empiric antibiotic therapy and their impact on patient outcomes were assessed. A total of 210 patients were included, with a median age of 50 years (range, 33-67 yr), of whom 66.2% were male. Pneumonia types were distributed as 30% CAP, 58% VAP, and 12% HAP. mPCR demonstrated a sensitivity of 96.9% (95% CI, 92.3-99.2%) and a specificity of 92% (95% CI, 91-93%). Following mPCR, antibiotic therapy modifications were observed in 58% of patients (n = 122), including de-escalation or cessation in 11% (n = 23), escalation in 26.5% (n = 56), adequacy adjustments in 7.5% (n = 16), and initiation of antibiotics in 13% (n = 27). The appropriateness of antibiotic therapy increased significantly from 38.7% (n = 83) to 67% (n = 141; difference, 27.5%; 95% CI, 18.3-36.7; p < 0.0001). Generalized mixed model analysis revealed that appropriate post-mPCR antibiotic therapy was associated with reduced mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.15-0.93; p = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the use of mPCR is associated with a significant improvement in the appropriateness of empiric antibiotic therapy and is also associated with a positive impact on the outcome of patients with pneumonia.
Source: Critical Care Explorations
Authors: Younes Aissaoui, Ali Derkaoui, Abdelhamid Hachimi, Ayoub Bouchama, Tarek Dendane, Mouhssine Doumiri, Karim ElAidaoui, Amra Ziadi, Meryem Essafti, Latifa Oualili, Mehdi Khaddouri, Oumaima Mroune, Mehdi Oudrhiri Safiani, Mohammed Khallouki, Adnane Berdai, Brahim Boukatta, Ahmed Rhassane El Adib, Naoufel Madani, Nabila Soraa, Ayoub Belhadj, Jamal Eddine Kohen, Redouane Abouqal
Institutions: Cadi Ayyad University, Hôpital Militaire Avicenne, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Hassan II, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Mohammed VI, Mohammed V University, Centre Hospitalier Ibn Sina, Université Mohammed VI des Sciences et de la Santé, Hôpital Universitaire International Cheikh Khalifa, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,600
OpenAlex ID: W4407393282