Universal Primer Polymerase Chain Reaction Looks Promising for Newborns With Low Pretest Probability of Sepsis

Newman TB, Kohn MA. — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Dutta et al reported impressive results using universal primer 16S rRNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to diagnose sepsis among 242 patients in a level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). However, because 2 of 52 bacteremic patients (4%) had falsely negative results, DeCamp et al, in the accompanying commentary, were unenthusiastic, concluding that “universal PCR is still not accurate enough to justify withholding antibiotic therapy in neonates being evaluated for sepsis.”

Universal Primer Polymerase Chain Reaction Looks Promising for Newborns With Low Pretest Probability of Sepsis—Reply

DeCamp L, Dempsey AF, Tarini BA. — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In reply

JAMA Pediatrics: Sepsis/Septic Shock Topic Collection

Universal Primer Polymerase Chain Reaction Looks Promising for Newborns With Low Pretest Probability of Sepsis

Universal Primer Polymerase Chain Reaction Looks Promising for Newborns With Low Pretest Probability of Sepsis—Reply