Comparison of Binax NOW urine antigen test and pneumococcal DNA assay using qPCR before and after nasopharyngeal swabbing in healthy Malawian children. (November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lees, E.A.; Ho, D.K.K.; Guiver, M.; Mankhambo, L.A.; French, N.; Carrol, ED
• Is Part Of: New microbes and new infections. Volume 8(2015)
• Page Start: 4
• Page End: 6
• Publication Date: 2015-11
• Subjects: Binax NOW urine antigen test -- DNAaemia -- invasive pneumococcal disease -- nasopharyngeal swabbing -- pneumococcal PCR; Medical microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; 616.9041
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nmni.2015.08.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2052-2975

Abstract

Abstract: Diagnosis of invasive pneumococcal disease is challenging. We compared Binax NOW pneumococcal urinary antigen test with blood pneumococcal PCR in healthy Malawian children with and without pneumococcal carriage, and we found a high false-positive rate with Binax NOW. Blood pneumococcal PCR positivity was 66/88 (75%) compared to 5/27 (18%) when nasopharyngeal swabbing was performed first compared to after blood sampling for pneumococcal blood PCR. We speculate that nasopharyngeal swabbing may be causing a breach of mucosal integrity, leading to invasion into the bloodstream. These findings need to be confirmed with autolysin-based PCR assays.