Background and Objective- Microbiological data coming out of india and other low income countries for acutely unwell patients admitted to the hospital is scant. However with the development of newer PCR based platforms like the BIOFIRE platform we are now getting much more detailed microbiological data along with genetic resistance pattern for respiratory samples. This retrospective observational study looks at microbiological profile in a tertiary care centre and correlate BIOFIRE data with ordinary culture sensitivity.

Materials and Methods- Total 148 samples out of 500 BAL samples were taken from patients with LRTI admitted in a tertiary care centre from September 2021 to may 2022 and sent for microbiological analysis (BIOFIRE and culture sensitivity).

Results: Out of 148, 109 samples (73%) were positive for organisms. Total 43 samples (39%) were both culture and BIOFIRE positive. Streptococcus pneumoniae grew in only one sample. Predominant gram negative bacteria? Klebsiella pneumonia (51%), Common Atypical organisms is moraxella (3.6%) & virus HRV/HEV(25%) are isolated. Coinfection (2 or more bacteria) found in 57 (52%) samples, Mixture of bacteria and virus seen in 39 (35%) samples.

Conclusion: From the study it can be concluded that identification of bacteria happens far more commonly and quickly on a PCR based platform as compared to cultures. In patients who are culture negative but have high suspicion for ongoing infection, doing BIOFIRE is suggested. Gram negatives are predominant on BIOFIRE samples which are consistent with culture report. The identification of viruses is important property for a PCR based platform.