[Determination of ascitic bacterial 16S rRNA by quantitative PCR-microarray in the diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis].

Objective To evaluate the significance of determining ascitic bacterial16S rRNA by quantitative PCR combined with microarray (PCR-microarray) in the diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). Methods Ascitic bacterial 16SrRNA was determined by real time fluorescent quantitative PCR-microarray in 76 cases of suspected SBP and 6 cases of non-infectious ascites with chronic liver diseases.The results were compared with ascitic bacterial culture simultaneously. Results Of 76 ascitic samples, 17were detected bacteria positive by PCR-microarray, including 8 Grams positive(G+) and 9 Grams negative (G-), which was higher than that by bacterial culture which had only 6 ascitic samples detected positive (all G-); the positive rates were 22.4% vs 7.9%, respectively (P ＜ 0.01). The bacterial strains detected by both methods in 6 cases had a consistency with each other. No bacteria were detected in another 6 cases of noninfectious ascites with chronic liver diseases. Conclusions Determination of ascitic bacteria 16S rRNA by PCR-microarray has a higher specificity and sensitivity in the diagnosis of SBP as compared with the bacteria culture. Application of this novel method can not only accelerate SBP diagnosis but also stratify the different pathogens. Key words: Peritonitis;  Infection;  Diagnosis;  Ascites;  Gene;  Bacterial 16SrRNA