Evaluation of the BioFire FilmArray Pneumonia Panel for rapid detection of respiratory bacterial pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes in sputum and endotracheal aspirate specimens

OBJECTIVES: The performance of the investigational-use-only version of the BioFire FilmArray Pneumonia Panel (FA-Pneumo), a high-order nested multiplex PCR, was evaluated for the detection of typical respiratory bacterial pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes in sputa and endotracheal aspirate (ETA) specimens. METHODS: Thirty-one sputa and 69 ETA specimens were analyzed. The diagnostic performance of FA-Pneumo was assessed using routine microbiological methods as the reference standard. RESULTS: copies/ml also gave culture-positive results with significant amounts of bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: FA-Pneumo is a rapid test with high sensitivity for the detection of bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes in sputum and ETA specimens and could aid in determining antibiotic therapy.