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Volume 18, Issue 2 (2026)
Iran J War Public Health 2026, 18(2): 249-255 |
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Received: 2026/06/15 | Accepted: 2026/08/3 | Published: 2026/08/21
Received: 2026/06/15 | Accepted: 2026/08/3 | Published: 2026/08/21
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Jasim A, Hammadi A, Barton S. Comparative Diagnostic Methods for Identifying Bacterial Respiratory Pathogens. Iran J War Public Health 2026; 18 (2) :249-255
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1- Department of Pathological Analysis, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Kerbala, Karbala, Iraq
2- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutics, Kingston University, London, England
2- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutics, Kingston University, London, England
Abstract (205 Views)
Aims: This study compared the performance of culture, automated identification systems (VITEK® 2), and species-specific polymerase chain reaction in detecting bacterial pathogens in respiratory samples obtained from symptomatic Iraqi patients.
Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study included 180 patients aged 2–50 years with symptoms of respiratory tract infections. Sputum and nasopharyngeal swab samples were cultured on blood and MacConkey agar. Colony morphology and VITEK® 2 were used to identify the isolates. PCR targeting ply (Streptococcus pneumoniae), nuc (Staphylococcus aureus), CW753 (Klebsiella pneumoniae), and EsxA (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) was performed. Chi-square tests Fisher’s exact tests were used to compare detection rates.
Findings: Among 180 patients, 150 (83.3%) had confirmed bacterial respiratory infections. VITEK® 2 most frequently identified Klebsiella pneumoniae (26.7%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (20.0%), and Staphylococcus aureus (18.7%), whereas PCR detected more Streptococcus pneumoniae (41.3% vs. 20.0%; p<0.001) and uniquely identified Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 20 cases (13.3%). Single-pathogen infections predominated (57.2%), and infection was significantly associated with smoking and chronic disease (p<0.0001).
Conclusion: Combining polymerase chain reaction with culture and VITEK® 2 improves the detection and management of bacterial respiratory infections in Iraq.
Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study included 180 patients aged 2–50 years with symptoms of respiratory tract infections. Sputum and nasopharyngeal swab samples were cultured on blood and MacConkey agar. Colony morphology and VITEK® 2 were used to identify the isolates. PCR targeting ply (Streptococcus pneumoniae), nuc (Staphylococcus aureus), CW753 (Klebsiella pneumoniae), and EsxA (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) was performed. Chi-square tests Fisher’s exact tests were used to compare detection rates.
Findings: Among 180 patients, 150 (83.3%) had confirmed bacterial respiratory infections. VITEK® 2 most frequently identified Klebsiella pneumoniae (26.7%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (20.0%), and Staphylococcus aureus (18.7%), whereas PCR detected more Streptococcus pneumoniae (41.3% vs. 20.0%; p<0.001) and uniquely identified Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 20 cases (13.3%). Single-pathogen infections predominated (57.2%), and infection was significantly associated with smoking and chronic disease (p<0.0001).
Conclusion: Combining polymerase chain reaction with culture and VITEK® 2 improves the detection and management of bacterial respiratory infections in Iraq.
Keywords:
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