%0 Journal Article
%T Evaluation of the positive predictive value of a rapid Immunochromatographic test to detect Campylobacter in stools
%A Pauline Floch
%A Julien Goret
%A Emilie Bess¨¨de
%A Philippe Lehours
%A Francis M¨¦graud
%J Gut Pathogens
%D 2012
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1757-4749-4-17
%X Campylobacters, especially Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli, are the main cause of bacterial enteric infections worldwide [1]. These infections can also lead to extraintestinal localizations and severe long-term complications, e.g. Guillain Barr¨¦ Syndrome [2]. The main diagnostic method used is currently culture, which is considered to be technically demanding and culture may underestimate the real incidence of this infection if the special culture needs are not completely fulfilled. Other techniques have been developed, e.g. molecular methods (real-time PCR), and ELISAs which have a better sensitivity than culture and appear to be specific [3]. They give a result in a few hours but are also technically demanding. Recently, immunochromatographic tests which allow to obtain a result within a few minutes and are very easy to perform, have been developed. The first studies performed have shown a good sensitivity but apparent lack in specificity. Our aim was to evaluate the positive predictive value (PPV) of such tests in comparison to a reference.During a 3-month period (August-October 2011) an immunochromatographic test (ImmunoCard STAT!Campy, Meridian Bioscience, Cincinnati, OH, USA) was applied on all the stools received at the bacteriology laboratory of our teaching hospital from patients (adults and children) with community-acquired enteric infection. In case of positive result, culture was performed by using 3 different methods: Karmali agar (Oxoid, Dardilly, France), overnight enrichment in Preston broth followed by culture on Karmali agar, and blood agar after a filtration step on a 0.65 ¦ÌM filter (Merck Millipore, Billerica, MA, USA). The media were incubated for 7 days at 37¡ãC in a microaerobic atmosphere (gas pack in jars) and observed daily. The colonies suspected to be Campylobacter species were confirmed on morphology, oxidase activity and formally identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry [4]. The remaining stools were then frozen at £¿80¡ãC to
%K Culture
%K ELISA
%K PCR
%K Specificity
%K Near-patient test
%U http://www.gutpathogens.com/content/4/1/17