The Polymerase Chain Reaction Combined With Quantum Dot Fluorescence Analysis Method for Rapid Detection of Multiple Urinary Tract Infection Pathogens in Children.

BACKGROUND: Identifying the pathogens responsible for urinary tract infections (UTIs) using urine culture methods is time-consuming, and delayed diagnosis significantly impacts patient outcomes. METHODS: We developed a novel platform that combines PCR amplification products with quantum dot fluorescence for hybridization-Polymerase Chain Reaction Combined with Quantum Dot Fluorescence Analysis (PCRQDFA), enabling rapid and efficient detection of pathogenic bacteria in urine. To evaluate the performance of this technique, 294 urine samples from children with UTI were collected and tested using PCR-QDFA and traditional culture methods. RESULTS: Compared to culture, the consistency rate of PCR-QDFA was 86.73%, with a sensitivity of 86.98% and a specificity of 86.4%. For common pathogens such as Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecium, Proteus mirabilis, and Enterobacter cloacae, the consistency rates exceeded 95%. CONCLUSION: The PCR-QDFA assay has proven to be a reliable tool for the rapid diagnosis of urinary pathogens in children with suspected urinary tract infections.