Performance of the FilmArray® Pneumonia Panel compared to bacterial culture in patients who were requested both diagnostic methods

Introduction: Pneumonia is one of the most frequent infections with the highest mortality and morbidity rates, and the aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic utility of the FilmArray® Pneumonia Panel (FPP) in the detection of a wide range of pathogens, including 15 bacterial species, in samples obtained from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and orotracheal secretions (OTS). Materials and methods: A total of 190 respiratory samples were collected from patients who underwent both FPP testing and culture. Standard laboratory procedures, including Gram staining and quantitative bacterial counting, were performed on various agar media. Microorganisms were identified using the Vitek MS system and susceptibility testing was conducted according to the guidelines of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Results: The most frequently detected microorganisms were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. FPP demonstrated high sensitivity (95%) but lower specificity (48%) than culture. The panel detected more pathogens, including Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii and Streptococcus agalactiae, and identified antibiotic resistance genes KPC and VIM, providing valuable information on pathogen resistance. Discussion: The FPP is a promising diagnostic tool for identifying respiratory pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes in pneumonia patients. FPP demonstrated high sensitivity, which can significantly reduce the time required for diagnosis and treatment decisions. However, its lower specificity indicates that it should be used in conjunction with culture to confirm results and prevent overdiagnosis.