biostudies-literatureUnknown15Peng J<h4>Background</h4>Bloodstream infection (BSI) exhibits elevated mortality, particularly among elderly patients manifesting atypical symptoms. Although blood culture (BC) remains the diagnostic gold standard, its limited sensitivity and prolonged turnaround time impede early detection. Droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR), a novel pathogen detection method with superior sensitivity and rapid results, demonstrates significant diagnostic and prognostic for BSI. However, heightened sensitivity may increase false positive rates, with elderly patients particularly susceptible to specimen contamination and transient bacteremia.<h4>Methods</h4>This retrospective study employed clinical judgment as the diagnostic reference. Patients were stratified into BSI and non-BSI groups, with daFrontiers in cellular and infection microbiology1605795https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12286947biostudies-literatureddPCR Enhances early diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and pathogen verification in elderly BSI.PMC12286947Peng YMeng TLi JZhang JLuo HWang HCheng WLi YHuang WChen XBai HWang ZPeng JDai HfalseddPCR Enhances early diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and pathogen verification in elderly BSI.<h4>Background</h4>Bloodstream infection (BSI) exhibits elevated mortality, particularly among elderly patients manifesting atypical symptoms. Although blood culture (BC) remains the diagnostic gold standard, its limited sensitivity and prolonged turnaround time impede early detection. Droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR), a novel pathogen detection method with superior sensitivity and rapid results, demonstrates significant diagnostic and prognostic for BSI. However, heightened sensitivity may increase false positive rates, with elderly patients particularly susceptible to specimen contamination and transient bacteremia.<h4>Methods</h4>This retrospective study employed clinical judgment as the diagnostic reference. Patients were stratified into BSI and non-BSI groups, with da2025-01-01T00:00:00Z20252026-03-17T15:36:39.826Z2025-08-17T03:06:05.391ZS-EPMC122869474070875410.3389/fcimb.2025.1605795