Table 1

Comparison of advantages and disadvantages of culture methods, qPCR and 16S rDNA PCR

MethodAdvantagesDisadvantages
Culture

  • Widely available

  • Inexpensive

  • Antimicrobial susceptibility data

  • Slower

  • Not species-specific

  • Only detects living organisms

  • Cannot identify all bacteria

qPCR

  • Fastest method

  • Detects viable and non-viable bacteria

  • Low chance of contamination

  • High sensitivity

  • Narrow spectrum (species-specific)

  • Limited antimicrobial susceptibility data

16S rDNA PCR

  • Detects viable and non-viable bacteria

  • Wide spectrum

  • Allows species differentiation (with sequencing)

  • Second-line option for undetectable bacteria

  • Vulnerable to contamination

  • Slower than qPCR

  • No antimicrobial susceptibility data

  • qPCR, quantitative PCR.