The microbiological outcomes of culture-negative blood specimens using 16S rRNA broad-range PCR sequencing: a retrospective study in a Canadian province from 2018 to 2022.

ABSTRACT

Broad-range 16S rRNA PCR and sequencing of 1,183 blood specimens from 853 unique patients yielded an interpretable sequence and bacterial identification in 29%, 16S rRNA amplification with uninterpretable sequences in 53%, and no amplification in 18%. This study highlights the potential utility of this technique in identifying fastidious gram-negative and anaerobic bacteria but the frequent recovery of environmental and contaminant organisms argues for its judicious use. IMPORTANCE The existing literature focuses on its performance compared to blood cultures in patients with sepsis, leaving a gap in the literature regarding other blood specimens in suspected infectious syndrome across the severity spectrum. We aimed to characterize its microbiological outcomes and provide insight into its potential clinical utility.