Performance of the automated multiplex PCR Unyvero implant and tissue infections system in the management of diabetic foot osteomyelitis

We evaluated the performance of Unyvero implant and tissue infections system (ITI) application (Curetis) to diagnose Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis (DFOM). The study was conducted in the Diabetic Foot reference center of Nîmes University Hospital (France) from 1 December 2016 to 31 May 2017. We compared the Unyvero ITI PCR to conventional culture and alternative molecular approaches. A total of 79 patients with DFOM were included: 177 microorganisms were isolated by culture, 146 detected by PCR, resulting in a concordance level of 66.7% (65.0-68.4). Discrepant results were obtained for 45 samples, with 59 microorganisms being detected by PCR only (18 samples) or by culture only (27 samples). Unyvero ITI PCR represents an interesting additional diagnosis solution to manage DFOM.