Point-of-care multiplex-PCR enables germ identification in haemolytic uremic syndrome 94 h earlier than stool culture.

Haemolytic uremic syndrome often affects children causing a relevant morbidity and mortality. We compared the time to diagnosis by multiplex-PCR and stool culture in 15 children from two centres. Multiplex-PCR accelerated the time to diagnosis by 94 (95% confidence interval, 80-119; P = 0.0007) hours. Multiplex-PCR offers a time advantage of stool culture that may aid in earlier identification of outbreak clusters.