Semi-Quantitative Detection of Respiratory Pathogens: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Results From the BIOFIRE FILMARRAY Pneumonia Panel and Culture.

ABSTRACT: This systematic review and meta-analysis compared bacterial semi-quantification of respiratory samples from the BIOFIRE FILMARRAY Pneumonia (PN) Panels with quantitative and semi-quantitative culture methods (qCMs). Fourteen studies comprising 1,654 samples were included. Across both bronchoalveolar lavage-like and endotracheal aspirate-like specimens, the BIOFIRE PN Panel reported consistently higher bacterial loads than qCMs, with pooled mean differences of 1.17 and 0.95 log, respectively. Discrepancies decreased as culture-reported bacterial burden increased. The concordance rate in identifying the predominant pathogen was 94%, supporting the panel's clinical relevance. However, differential reporting at lower bacterial loads suggests that existing culture-based thresholds may not trans

SUBMITTER: Hommel B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12748513 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature