Performance characteristics and clinical predictive value of the string test for detection of hepato-virulent Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from blood cultures

Thean Yen Tan; Yvonne Cheng; Melissa Ong; Lily Siew Yong Ng

doi:10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2013.10.014

Performance characteristics and clinical predictive value of the string test for detection of hepato-virulent Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from blood cultures

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2014 Feb;78(2):127-8. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2013.10.014. Epub 2013 Oct 31.

Authors

Thean Yen Tan¹, Yvonne Cheng², Melissa Ong², Lily Siew Yong Ng³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Laboratory Medicine, Changi General Hospital, Singapore. Electronic address: hean_yen_tan@cgh.com.sg.
² School of Life Sciences and Chemical Technology, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore.
³ Department of Laboratory Medicine, Changi General Hospital, Singapore.

PMID: 24321354
DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2013.10.014

Abstract

This study evaluated the phenotypic string test for identifying Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteraemic isolates associated with primary liver abscess. Test reproducibility and repeatability exceeded 95%, with varying sensitivity (66-90%) and specificity (64-67%) depending on cut-off values. The positive predictive value of a positive string test for identifying hepato-virulent isolates was <35%.

Keywords: Bacteremia; Hepatic abscess.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Bacteremia*
Bacteriological Techniques / methods*
Bacteriological Techniques / standards*
Humans
Klebsiella Infections / complications*
Klebsiella Infections / diagnosis*
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Liver Abscess / etiology*
Reproducibility of Results
Sensitivity and Specificity