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J Pediatr Infect Dis
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1800919
Original Article

Evaluation of Gastrointestinal Pathogens in Children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Using Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction

Yeliz Çağan Appak 
1   Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Izmir, Türkiye
,
Özgür Appak 
2   Department of Medical Microbiology, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Türkiye
,
Betül Aksoy 
1   Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Izmir, Türkiye
,
Büşra Emir 
3   Department of Biostatistics, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Izmir, Türkiye
,
Ayça Arzu Sayiner 
2   Department of Medical Microbiology, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Türkiye
,
Maşallah Baran 
1   Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Izmir, Türkiye
› Author Affiliations
Funding This work was supported by the Research Fund of the İzmir Katip Celebi University (Project Number: 2022-GAP-TIPF-0013).
› Further Information
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Abstract

Objective Impaired gastrointestinal (GI) mucosa and immunosuppressant therapies increase the risk of secondary infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study evaluated the detection of pathogens in children with IBD using a gastrointestinal panel (GP). This is the first study to compare this method with clinical data from pediatric IBD patients.

Methods Children with newly diagnosed IBD or experiencing disease flares were included. Demographic data, clinical and laboratory findings, treatments, treatment durations, and disease activity were analyzed. Stool samples were assessed using multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction with QIAstat-Dx GP®. Results were compared between groups.

Results Thirty-five patients with IBD were included in the study. Routine stool analyses detected rotavirus in one patient and Blastocystis hominis in another, while no microorganisms were identified in stool cultures. GP detected pathogenic microorganisms in 40% of patients, with a higher prevalence among those experiencing IBD flares (71.4%). Detected pathogens included Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, Campylobacter spp., Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli, Clostridium difficile, and sapovirus. No significant statistical differences were found between positive and negative GP cases in terms of new/previous diagnosis, disease duration, clinical and laboratory findings, disease activity, and immunosuppressive treatment.

Conclusion In our study, pathogenic microorganisms that could not be detected by routine clinical tests in patients with IBD could be detected by the GP. Most positive cases occurred in previously diagnosed patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. Due to its high cost, GPs should be used selectively, and detected pathogens should be carefully evaluated for clinical relevance.

Keywords

inflammatory bowel disease - gastrointestinal panel - polymerase chain reaction

Ethical Approval

An ethics committee approval was obtained from the ethical committee of the İzmir Tepecik Training and Research Hospital (Number: 2021/01/03).




Publication History

Received: 04 March 2024

Accepted: 19 November 2024

Article published online:
13 December 2024

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