Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38326773›Full record

ArticleBMC infectious diseases2024

Enhancing enteric pathogen detection: implementation and impact of multiplex PCR for improved diagnosis and surveillance.

Jad Mohtar, Hiba Mallah, Jean Marc Mardirossian, Rana El-Bikai, Tamima El Jisr, Shatha Soussi, Rania Naoufal, Gabriella Alam, Mira El Chaar

Open access · goldAbstract readMulticenter Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
3.1field-weighted citation impact, top 9% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 8 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Impact of the BioFireBMC infectious diseases · 2026
    Article
  3. Observational
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Jad Mohtar *Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Balamand, Beirut, Lebanon.
Hiba Mallah *Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Balamand, Beirut, Lebanon.
Jean Marc MardirossianFaculty of Health Sciences, University of Balamand, Beirut, Lebanon.
Rana El-BikaiFaculty of Health Sciences, University of Balamand, Beirut, Lebanon.
Tamima El JisrClinical Laboratory Department, Makassed General Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon.
Shatha SoussiClinical Laboratory Department, Makassed General Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon.
Rania NaoufalClinical Laboratory Department, Saint Georges Hospital University Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
Gabriella AlamClinical Laboratory Department, Saint Georges Hospital University Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
Mira El ChaarFaculty of Health Sciences, University of Balamand, Beirut, Lebanon. mira.elchaar@balamand.edu.lb.
University of Balamand · LBMakassed General Hospital · LBSaint George Hospital · LBMayo Clinic in Florida · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSyndromic surveillance of acute gastroenteritis plays a significant role in the diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal infections that are responsible for a substantial number of deaths globally, especially in developing countries. In Lebanon, there is a lack of national surveillance for acute gastroenteritis, and limited data exists regarding the prevalence of pathogens causing diarrhea. The one-year study aims to investigate the epidemiology of common gastrointestinal pathogens and compare our findings with causative agents of diarrhea reported by our study collaborative centers.

methodsA multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted over a one-year period. A total of 271 samples were obtained from outpatients and inpatients presenting with symptoms of acute gastroenteritis at various healthcare facilities. The samples were then analyzed using Allplex gastrointestinal assay that identifies a panel of enteric pathogens.

resultsOverall, enteropathogens were detected in 71% of the enrolled cases, 46% of those were identified in patients as single and 54% as mixed infections. Bacteria were observed in 48%, parasites in 12% and viruses in 11%. Bacterial infections were the most prevalent in all age groups. Enteroaggregative E. coli (26.5%), Enterotoxigenic E. coli (23.2%) and Enteropathogenic E. coli (20.3%) were the most frequently identified followed by Blastocystis hominis (15.5%) and Rotavirus (7.7%). Highest hospitalization rate occurred with rotavirus (63%), Enterotoxigenic E. coli (50%), Blastocystis hominis (45%) and Enteropathogenic E. coli (43%). Enteric pathogens were prevalent during summer, fall and winter seasons.

conclusionsThe adoption of multiplex real-time PCR assays in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal infections has identified gaps and improved the rates of detection for multiple pathogens. Our findings highlight the importance of conducting comprehensive surveillance to monitor enteric infections. The implementation of a syndromic testing panel can therefore provide healthcare professionals with timely and accurate information for more effective treatment and public health interventions.

Indexed as

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coliEnterotoxigenic Escherichia coliGastroenteritisRotavirusCross-Sectional StudiesDiarrheaFecesHumansMultiplex Polymerase Chain ReactionEnteric pathogensGastroenteritisHospitalization rateMultiplex PCRPrevalence

Identifiers

PMID38326773
PMCPMC10848388
OpenAlexW4391603064

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.