ArticlePLOS global public health2025
Rapid bacterial identification and resistance detection using a low complexity molecular diagnostic platform in Zimbabwe.
Article in PLOS global public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- A rapid, inexpensive diagnostic for bacterial pathogen and resistance detection in resource-limited settings.Science advances · 2026Article
- Molecular Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus and Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Isolates at a Rural Hospital in Southern Malawi.BioMed research international · 2026Article
- Predicting risk of early-onset sepsis in low-resource neonatal units using routine healthcare data: development and evaluation of multivariable statistical and machine learning models.BMJ paediatrics open · 2025Article
- Spectral Precision: Recent Advances in Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry for Pathogen Detection and Resistance Profiling.Microorganisms · 2025Review
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Authors and funding
18 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSepsis is a major cause of mortality in low-resource settings. Effective microbiological culture services are a bottleneck in diagnosis and surveillance.
aimWe aimed to evaluate the performance of the BIOFIRE FILMARRAY Blood Culture Identification 2 (BCID2, bioMérieux) assay in a low-resource setting laboratory in comparison to standard practice.
methodsThis five month prospective validation study included all positive blood cultures collected at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe. BCID2 testing was done in parallel to standard phenotypic procedures and resistance testing. Reference identification was performed using mass spectrometry or whole genome sequencing. Only samples with available reference standard results were included in the analysis. Data captured on paper-based forms was entered into electronic case report forms (ODK Collect). Specificity and sensitivity for BCID2 were calculated in comparison to the reference standards, with performance measures calculated using the Wilson score. Biomedical scientists using BCID2 completed a system usability survey (SUS).
resultsPositive results were recorded in 780/2,023 (38.5%) blood cultures, within which 377 (48.3%) had reference results and so were included in analysis. Neonatal samples were most frequent (182, 48.3%), then paediatric (150, 39.8%), then adults (18, 4.8%) and unknown (27, 7.2%). Specificity exceeded 95% throughout. Sensitivity ranged from 50% (A. calcoaceticus-baumanii complex, Proteus spp.) to 100% (S. pneumoniae, Salmonella spp). Using BCID2, CTX-M was detected in 111/175 (74.5%) Enterobacterales, from which 5/111 also had NDM and VIM detected. NDM-5 was detected in 2/5 NDM samples using sequencing. In total 3/23 S. aureus isolates were methicillin resistant, from which one was confirmed using phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Usability was good (SUS score = 79.5).
conclusionRapid molecular tests have potential to improve turn-around time and quality of sepsis diagnostics. However, specific work-flows are critical to supplement molecular tests with minimal phenotypic tests for optimal clinical decision-making.
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