Abstract:

Objective To evaluate the clinical application of gene chip technology for determining respiratory pathogens in the diagnosis of pulmonary infection after renal transplantation. Methods A total of 290 respiratory tract specimens（sputum,broncho-alveolar lavage fluid,throat swab） were collected from the post-renal transplantation patients. The pathogens were determined and cultured by gene chip and traditional bacterial culture. The results of 2 methods were analyzed statistically. Results A total of 290 patients after renal transplantation were enrolled,including 149 pulmonary infection patients. The pathogens determined by gene chip were found in 55 samples,and the sensitivity was 65.48%（55/84）. The traditional bacterial culture only had 50 positive results,and the sensitivity was 64.00%（32/50）. The 141 patients who were without pulmonary infection determined by gene chip had 112 negative results,and the specificity was 54.37%（112/206）. The traditional bacterial culture had 123 negative results,and the specificity was 51.25%（123/240）. Gene chip technology has statistical significance in clinical diagnosis of pulmonary infection（χ²=8.62,P<0.01）. Conclusions Compared with the traditional bacterial culture method,gene chip has better sensitivity in the diagnosis of pulmonary infection after renal transplantation,and its specificity should be improved.

Key words: Gene chip technology, Bacterial culture, Renal transplantation, Pulmonary infection