Evaluation of the BioFire FilmArray Pneumonia Panel Plus for Detection of Viral, Bacterial Pathogens and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Lower Respiratory Tract Specimens at Al-Zahra Hospital for Pediatrics in Najaf, Iraq

¹ Department of Pathological Analysis, Faculty of Science, University of Kufa, Najaf, Iraq
^2,3 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Kufa, Najaf, Iraq

^* Corresponding author: nabeel.tuwaij@uokufa.edu.iq

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the BioFire FilmArray Pneumonia Panel (BFPP) in rapidly diagnosing pathogens and detecting antimicrobial resistance genes in pediatric respiratory specimens, with an aim to enhance clinical decision-making in a pediatric hospital in Najaf, Iraq. For a period from 24/11/2022 to 22/5/2023, 36 specimens from pediatric patients with lower respiratory tract infection of males and females of different ages less than six years were collected. All specimens met the inclusion criteria, where Procalcitonin (PCT) levels above 0.5 ng/ml and negative blood cultures. The most prevalent pathogen detected were Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii complex in 63.89% of samples. Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae were detected in 44.44% and 41.67% of specimens, respectively. Less frequent were Streptococcus pneumoniae and Escherichia coli at 19.44%, Pseudomonas aeruginosa at 16.67%, Haemophilus influenzae at 11.11%, and Moraxella catarrhalis and Serratia marcescens each at 5.56%. Adenovirus was the most frequently detected virus, in 33.33% of the total samples. Other viruses detected include Human Rhinovirus/Enterovirus 19.44%, Respiratory Syncytial Virus 16.66%, Parainfluenza 11.11%, Human Metapneumovirus and Influenza B account for 5.55% while Corona virus not detected at all specimens. VIM gene was found in 63.89% of specimens, underscoring extensive carbapenem resistance, while other resistance genes appeared sporadically like mecA/C in 13.88%, IMP in 5.55% and KPC in 2.77 while OXA-48 like not detected at all.