Impact of the multiplex polymerase chain reaction in culture-positive samples on appropriate antibiotic use in patients with staphylococcal bacteremia

Rapid identification of the microorganisms in patients with bacteremia may be useful in clinical practice. We evaluated the impact of the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on appropriate antibiotic use for patients with gram-positive cocci cluster (GPCC) bacteremia. We divided the GPCC bacteremia cases into a pre-PCR group (2010–2011) and a post-PCR group (2012–2013). A total 664 cases were included in the pre-PCR group; and 570, in the post-PCR group. In methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) cases, optimal antibiotics were administered earlier in the post-PCR group (77.4 h versus 42.6 h, P = 0.035). Although the proportions of glycopeptide exposure did not differ (54.7% versus 56.7%, P = 0.799), the duration of exposure decreased (69.6 h versus 30.7 h, P = 0.004). In methicillin-resistant S. aureus cases, the time to optimal antibiotics administration did not differ (45.4 h versus 43.7 h, P = 0.275). Multiplex PCR test significantly improved the early initiation of optimal antibiotics in MSSA bacteremia and reduced the unnecessary glycopeptide exposure.