Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41834634›Full record

ArticleAcute and critical care2026

Real-world experience using multiplex polymerase chain reaction in intensive care unit patients with hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia in South Korea.

Eun Chong Yoon, Sang-Ho Choi, Heungsup Sung, Yong Pil Chong, Euijin Chang, Kyung-Hyun Do, Su Yeon Lee, Dong-Gon Hyun, Jee Hwan Ahn, Jin Won Huh and 2 more

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Article in Acute and critical care, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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

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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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
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

12 authors.

Eun Chong YoonDivision of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Sang-Ho ChoiDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Heungsup SungDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Yong Pil ChongDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Euijin ChangDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kyung-Hyun DoDepartment of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Su Yeon LeeDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Dong-Gon HyunDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jee Hwan AhnDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jin Won HuhDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Chae-Man LimDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Sang-Bum HongDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) are common among critically ill patients, leading to increased morbidity and mortality rates. Conventional culture-based diagnostics require 48-72 hours, which delays pathogen identification and prolongs the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) enables the rapid detection of pathogens and resistance genes, but its effects on real-world antibiotic decision-making remain unclear.

methodsThis retrospective study included patients in the intensive care unit who were diagnosed with HAP or VAP at a tertiary medical center between July 2023 and June 2024. All patients underwent both mPCR and respiratory culture. The primary outcome was the time to the first antibiotic modification based on mPCR or respiratory culture. The secondary outcome was the rate of antibiotic de-escalation from carbapenem or teicoplanin/vancomycin based on mPCR findings.

resultsIn total, 75 patients were included (median age, 68 years; 61.3% male). mPCR identified bacterial pathogens in 45.3% cases, with a median turnaround time of 281 minutes. The median time to antibiotic modification was 5.8 hours for mPCR versus 122.32 hours for culture (P<0.01). Despite negative mPCR results for gram-negative bacilli, carbapenem therapy was discontinued in only 1 of 24 cases (4.2%). Among 39 patients with negative results for Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin or teicoplanin was discontinued in only 3 cases (7.7%).

conclusionsmPCR provided faster pathogen identification and earlier antibiotic modifications than conventional respiratory culture. However, antibiotic discontinuation remained uncommon despite negative mPCR results, highlighting challenges in real-world antimicrobial stewardship.

Indexed as

anti-bacterial agentsmultiplex polymerase chain reactionpneumonia

Identifiers

PMID41834634
PMCPMC12989935

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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.