Rapid detection and identification of pathogens in blood cultures by fluorescence in situ hybridization and flow cytometry

Septicemia is one of the leading causes of death in hospitalized patients. The timely detection and identification of microorganisms from the patient's blood has great diagnostic, prognostic and economic significance. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes has been proven to be a fast method for the identification of human pathogenic bacteria and yeasts. Data presented herein reveal that the combination of FISH and flow cytometry (FC-FISH) is a rapid and reliable technique for identification of pathogens (Gram-negative rods, Candida spp.) directly from blood cultures without further cultivation and biotyping. Moreover, detection of growing pathogens (e.g., Stenotrophomonas maltophilia) in blood cultures is achieved more rapidly by FC-FISH compared to standard detection methods. Therefore, FC-FISH allows rapid detection and identification of pathogens in blood cultures.