Molecular testing for gastrointestinal pathogens in intestinal tissue of infants with necrotizing enterocolitis or spontaneous intestinal perforation

Objective The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of common gastrointestinal bacterial, parasitic, and viral pathogen detection in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP) -associated intestinal tissue. Study design Retrospective cohort study examined formalin fixed, paraffin embedded (FFPE) surgical or autopsy intestinal tissue from NEC or SIP specimens. DNA and RNA were extracted and analyzed by multiplex PCR panel (GIFA Biofire). DNA or RNA from stool samples containing each pathogen were extracted for positive controls. Results The total number of intestinal tissue samples were 193 from 310 infants (156 NEC, 37 SIP). Six (3%) infants with stage III NEC tested positive for a target pathogen; 2, C. difficile; 3, Enteroaggregtive E. coli ; and 1, Giardia . No gastrointestinal viral pathogens were detected. Conclusion Molecular testing yielded few GI pathogens suggesting that these organisms are likely not major causes or facilitators of NEC or SIP.