“A Four-Leaf Clover” Sign for Rapid Identification of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci by Gram Staining From Positive Blood Culture: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Background: Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are one of the most common contaminant microorganisms isolated from blood cultures. Few studies exploring the use of Gram staining to distinguish between Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and CoNS have been reported. Here, this study aimed to explore whether morphological features of Gram staining could identify SA or CoNS.Methods: This study was conducted at St. Luke’s International Hospital from November 2016 to September 2017. The positive blood cultures for which the Gram staining showed gram-positive cocci (GPC) in clusters were included in our study. The direct smear of Gram staining obtained from positive blood culture bottles were examined within 24 hours of positivity. We have identified and characterized the following two signs: “four-leaf clover (FLC)” if 4 GPC gathered like a planar four-leaf clover and “grapes” if the GPC gathered like grapes in a three-dimensional form. The number of fields with FLC and grapes signs in 10 fields per slide with ×1,000 power was counted, and the results in a total of 20 fields with ×1,000 power were combined. We performed a logistic regression analysis to assess whether these signs could serve as factors distinguishing between SA and CoNS. The predictive ability of these signs was evaluated based on the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for CoNS via receiver operating curve analysis.Results: In total, 106 blood cultures for which Gram staining showed GPC in clusters were examined; 46 (43%) were SA, and 60 (57%) were CoNS samples. The result of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the FLC sign was a statistically significant marker of CoNS with an odds ratio of 1.31 (95 % confidential interval (CI): 1.07–1.61, p<0.05). In aerobic bottles, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for CoNS were 0.67, 0.91, 0.92, and 0.65, respectively, and the value of area under the curve was 0.79 (95% CI: 0.67–0.91).Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that the FLC could be a rapid and useful indicator to identify CoNS in aerobic bottles. Thus, the presence of FLC sings could help clinicians to suspect the possibility of CoNS before the final identification by cultures.

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316. Use of (1-3)-β-D-Glucan Assay for Diagnosis of Candidemia in Patients Hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofab466.518 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S264-S264

Author(s):

Yesha Malik ◽

Amy Dupper ◽

Jaclyn Cusumano ◽

Dhruv Patel ◽

Kathryn Twyman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Logistic Regression ◽

Retrospective Study ◽

Blood Culture ◽

Positive Predictive Value ◽

Predictive Value ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Mortality Rates ◽

Mount Sinai Hospital ◽

Blood Cultures ◽

P Value

Abstract Background Candidemia is a rare but serious complication of SARS-CoV-2 hospitalization. Combining non-culture and culture-based diagnostics allows earlier identification of candidemia. Given higher reported incidence during COVID-19 surges, we investigated the use of (1-3)-β-D-glucan (BDG) assay at our institution in those who did and did not develop candidemia. Methods Retrospective study of adults admitted to The Mount Sinai Hospital between March 15-June 30 2020 for SARS-CoV-2 infection, with either ≥1 BDG assay or positive fungal blood culture. Data was collected with the electronic medical record and Vigilanz. A BDG value ≥ 80 was used as a positivity cutoff. Differences in mortality were assessed by univariate logistic regression using R (version 4.0.0). Statistical significance was measured by P value < .05. Results There were 75 patients with ≥1 BDG assay resulted and 28 patients with candidemia, with an overlap of 9 between the cohorts. Among the 75 who had BDG assay, 23 resulted positive and 52 negative. Nine of 75 patients developed candidemia. Of the 23 with a positive assay, 5 developed candidemia and 18 did not. Seventeen of the 18 had blood cultures drawn within 7 days +/- of BDG assay. Four patients with candidemia had persistently negative BDG; 2 had cultures collected within 7 days +/- of BDG assay. With a cut-off of >80, the negative predictive value (NPV) was 0.92. When the cut-off increased to >200, NPV was 0.97 and positive predictive value (PPV) was 0.42. Average antifungal days in patients with negative BDG was 2.6 vs. 4.2 in those with a positive. Mortality was 74% in those with ≥1 positive BDG vs. 50% in those with persistently negative BDGs. There was a trend towards higher odds of death in those with positive BDG (OR = 2.83, 95% CI: 1.00-8.90, p < 0.06). Conclusion There was substantial use of BDG to diagnose candidemia at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Blood cultures were often drawn at time of suspected candidemia but not routinely. When cultures and BDG were drawn together, BDG had a high NPV but low PPV. High NPV of BDG likely contributed to discontinuation of empiric antifungals. The candidemic COVID-19 patients had high mortality, so further investigation of algorithms for the timely diagnosis of candidemia are needed to optimize use of antifungals while improving mortality rates. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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Rapid Detection of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) Using the KeyPath MRSA/MSSA Blood Culture Test and the BacT/ALERT System in a Pediatric Population

Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine ◽

10.5858/arpa.2012-0422-oa ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 137 (8) ◽

pp. 1103-1105 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Kaede V. Sullivan ◽

Nicole N. Turner ◽

Sylvester S. Roundtree ◽

Karin L. McGowan

Keyword(s):

Staphylococcus Aureus ◽

Blood Culture ◽

Positive Predictive Value ◽

Negative Predictive Value ◽

Predictive Value ◽

Blood Cultures ◽

Methicillin Resistant ◽

Culture Test ◽

Sensitivity Specificity ◽

Gram Positive Cocci

Context.—Timely initiation of directed antimicrobial therapy for Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia is dependent on rapid identification of S aureus to ascertain methicillin-susceptibility status. Objectives.—To investigate the performance of the rapid KeyPath (MicroPhage, Inc, Longmont, Colorado) methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible S aureus (MSSA) blood culture test (MMBT). Design.—Positive BacT/ALERT Pediatric FAN (fastidious antibiotic neutralization) blood culture bottles (bioMérieux, Inc, Durham, North Carolina) were tested prospectively using MMBT and routine bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing procedures as the gold standard. The MMBT uses an S aureus–specific bacteriophage cocktail that infects bacterial cells and replicates them, resulting in cellular lysis. Bacteriophage-specific antibodies detect the increase in bacteriophage concentration in an immunoassay device. Phage amplification, in both the presence and absence of cefoxitin, indicates the presence of MRSA. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of MMBT in detecting S aureus, MSSA, and MRSA were calculated. Results.—Of 188 positive blood cultures tested, 199 (63%) had Gram-positive cocci in clusters, 46 (24%) grew S aureus (26 MSSA [57%], 20 MRSA [43%]) with the MMBT detecting 40 of 46 (87%). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value among blood cultures with Gram-positive cocci in clusters were 87%, 100%, 100%, and 92% for S aureus; 81%, 100%, 100%, and 95% for MSSA; and 95%, 100%, 100%, and 99% for MRSA. All blood cultures without growth of S aureus tested negative by MMBT. Conclusions.—The MMBT detected MSSA and MRSA directly from positive BacT/ALERT PF bottles with positive predictive values of 100%, suggesting that positive results could be reported immediately, but the sensitivity of this assay limited immediate reporting of negative results.

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81. Reducing Unnecessary Blood Cultures Through Diagnostic Stewardship

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofab466.283 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S157-S157

Author(s):

Sujeet Govindan ◽

Luke Strnad

Keyword(s):

Blood Culture ◽

Positive Blood Culture ◽

Cost Savings ◽

Bloodstream Infections ◽

Central Line ◽

Blood Cultures ◽

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽

Candida Sp ◽

Daily Frequency ◽

Oregon Health

Abstract Background At our institution, we learned the frequency of blood cultures was sometimes being changed from “Once” to “Daily” without a defined number of days. We hypothesized this led to unnecessary blood cultures being performed. Methods Over a 3 month period from 12/6/2019-3/6/2020, we retrospectively evaluated the charts of patients who had a blood culture frequency changed to “Daily”. We evaluated if there was an initial positive blood culture within 48 hours of the “Daily” order being placed and the number of positive, negative, or “contaminant” sets of cultures drawn with the order. Contaminant blood cultures were defined as a contaminant species, present only once in the repeat cultures, and not present in initial positive cultures. Results 95 unique orders were placed with 406 sets of cultures drawn from 89 adults. ~20% of the time (17 orders) the order was placed without an initial positive blood culture. This led to 62 sets of cultures being drawn, only 1 of which came back positive. 78/95 orders had an initial positive blood culture. The most common initial organisms were Staphylococcus aureus (SA) (38), Candida sp (10), Enterobacterales sp (10), and coagulase negative staphylococci (7). 43/78 (55%) orders with an initial positive set had positive repeat cultures. SA (26) and Candida sp (8) were most common to have positive repeats. Central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) were found in 5 of the orders and contaminant species were found in 4 of the orders. 54% of the patients who had a “Daily” order placed did not have positive repeat cultures. The majority of the cultures were drawn from Surgical (40 orders) and Medical (35 orders) services. Assuming that SA and Candida sp require 48 hours of negative blood cultures to document clearance and other species require 24 hours, it was estimated that 51% of the cultures drawn using the "Daily" frequency were unnecessary. Cost savings over a year of removing the "Daily" frequency would be ~&14,000. Data from "Daily" blood culture orders drawn at Oregon Health & Science University from 12/6/2019-3/6/2020 Conclusion Unnecessary blood cultures are drawn when the frequency of blood cultures is changed to "Daily". Repeat blood cultures had the greatest utility in bloodstream infections due to SA or Candida sp, and with CLABSI where the line is still in place. These results led to a stewardship intervention to change blood culture ordering at our institution. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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Elastography for the Diagnosis of High-Suspicion Thyroid Nodules Based on the 2015 American Thyroid Association Guidelines: A Multicenter Study

10.21203/rs.2.17002/v5 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Hairu Li ◽

Yulan Peng ◽

Yan Wang ◽

Hong Ai ◽

Xiaodong Zhou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Logistic Regression ◽

Regression Analysis ◽

Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

Predictive Value ◽

Thyroid Nodules ◽

Reference Method ◽

Final Analysis ◽

American Thyroid Association ◽

Diagnostic Efficiency ◽

Sensitivity Specificity

Abstract Background: An accurate diagnosis for high-suspicion nodules based on the 2015 American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines would reduce unnecessary invasive examinations. Elastography is a useful tool for discriminating benign and malignant thyroid nodules. The aim of this study is to investigate the diagnostic efficiency of elastography for high-suspicion thyroid nodules based on the 2015 ATA guidelines in the Chinese population.Methods: Thyroid nodules with high-suspicion characteristics based on the 2015 ATA guidelines were subjected to conventional ultrasound (US) and ultrasound strain elastography (USE) examinations at 12 hospitals from 4 geographic regions across China. Cytology/histology of thyroid nodules was used as a reference method. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the elasticity score (ES) and strain ratio (SR). Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of malignancy.Results: Overall, a total of 1445 thyroid nodules (834 malignant, 611 benign) from 12 centers were included in the final analysis. The areas under the curve of the ES and SR were 0.828 and 0.732, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the ES were 92.4%, 60.7%, 79.0%, 76.3% and 85.5%, respectively, and those of the SR were 81.1%, 50.1%, 68.9%, 65.9% and 67.9%, respectively. The combination of the Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) and ES led to a significant increase in the sensitivity and NPV (97.1% and 91.9%, respectively) compared with the TI-RADS alone. Logistic regression analysis showed that microcalcifications (OR=5.290), taller than wide (OR=12.710), irregular margins (OR=10.117), extrathyroidal extension (ETE; OR=6.412), the ES (OR=3.741) and the SR (OR=1.083) were independent predictors of malignant thyroid nodules. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV and NPV of the ES were all superior in nodules ≥1 cm than in those <1 cm (95.0% vs 90.4%, 68.8% vs 56.8%, 85.9% vs 74.4%, 85.2% vs 69.9%, and 87.8% vs 84.2%, respectively).Conclusions: Elastography combined with the ES is a valuable tool for the assessment of high-suspicion thyroid nodules based on the 2015 ATA guidelines, especially in nodules ≥1 cm.

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Integration of heparin-binding protein and interleukin-6 in the early prediction of respiratory failure and mortality in pneumonia by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)

10.21203/rs.3.rs-52975/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Maria Saridaki ◽

Simeon Metallidis ◽

Sotiria Grigiropoulou ◽

Emmanouil Vrentzos ◽

Malvina Lada ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Regression Analysis ◽

Respiratory Failure ◽

Positive Predictive Value ◽

Predictive Value ◽

Binding Protein ◽

Heparin Binding ◽

Heparin Binding Protein ◽

Independent Risk Factors ◽

Sensitivity Specificity

Abstract Purpose Recent publications on the probable role of heparin-binding protein (HBP) as a biomarker in sepsis prompted us to investigate its diagnostic and prognostic performance in severe COVID-19Methods HBP and IL-6 were measured by immunoassays at admission and on day 7 in 178 patients with pneumonia by SARS-CoV-2. Patients were classified into non-sepsis and sepsis as per the Sepsis-3 definitions and were followed-up for the development of severe respiratory failure (SRF) and for outcome. Results were confirmed by multivariate analyses.Results HBP was significantly higher in patients classified as having sepsis and was negatively associated with the oxygenation ratio and positively associated with creatinine and lactate. Logistic regression analysis evidenced admission HBP more than 18 ng/ml and IL-6 more than 30 pg/ml as independent risk factors for the development of SRP. Their integration prognosticated SRF with respective sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive 59.1%, 96.3%, 83.9% and 87.8%. Cox regression analysis evidenced admission HBP more than 35 ng/ml and IL-6 more than 30 pg/ml as independent risk factors for 28-day mortality. Their integration prognosticated 28-day mortality with respective sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive 69.2%, 92.7%, 42.9% and 97.5%. HBP remained unchanged over-time course. Conclusion A prediction score of the disposition of patients with COVID-19 is proposed taking into consideration admission levels of IL-6 and HBP. Using different cut-offs the score may predict the likelihood for SRF and for 28-day outcome.

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Elastography for the Diagnosis of High-Suspicion Thyroid Nodules Based on the 2015 American Thyroid Association Guidelines: A Multicenter Study

10.21203/rs.2.17002/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Hairu Li ◽

Yulan Peng ◽

Yan Wang ◽

Hong Ai ◽

Xiaodong Zhou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Logistic Regression ◽

Regression Analysis ◽

Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

Predictive Value ◽

Thyroid Nodules ◽

Reference Method ◽

Final Analysis ◽

American Thyroid Association ◽

Diagnostic Efficiency ◽

Sensitivity Specificity

Abstract Background: An accurate diagnosis for high-suspicion nodules based on the 2015 American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines would reduce unnecessary invasive examinations. Elastography is a useful tool for discriminating benign and malignant thyroid nodules.Aims: To investigate the diagnostic efficiency of elastography for high-suspicion thyroid nodules based on the 2015 ATA guidelines in the Chinese population.Materials and Methods: Thyroid nodules with high-suspicion characteristics based on the 2015 ATA guidelines were subjected to conventional ultrasound (US) and ultrasound strain elastography (USE) examinations at 12 hospitals from 4 geographic regions across China. Cytology/histology of thyroid nodules was used as a reference method. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the elasticity score (ES) and strain ratio (SR). Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of malignancy.Results: Overall, a total of 1445 thyroid nodules (834 malignant, 611 benign) from 12 centers were included in the final analysis. The areas under the curve of the ES and SR were 0.828 and 0.732, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the ES were 92.4%, 60.7%, 79.0%, 76.3% and 85.5%, respectively, and those of the SR were 81.1%, 50.1%, 68.9%, 65.9% and 67.9%, respectively. The combination of the Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) and ES led to a significant increase in the sensitivity and NPV (97.1% and 91.9%, respectively) compared with the TI-RADS alone. Logistic regression analysis showed that microcalcifications (OR=5.290), taller than wide (OR=12.710), irregular margins (OR=10.117), extrathyroidal extension (ETE; OR=6.412), the ES (OR=3.741) and the SR (OR=1.083) were independent predictors of malignant thyroid nodules. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV and NPV of the ES were all superior in nodules ≥1 cm than in those <1 cm (95.0% vs 90.4%, 68.8% vs 56.8%, 85.9% vs 74.4%, 85.2% vs 69.9%, and 87.8% vs 84.2%, respectively).Conclusions: Elastography combined with the ES is a valuable tool for the assessment of high-suspicion thyroid nodules based on the 2015 ATA guidelines, especially in nodules ≥1 cm.

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Positive predictive value of blood cultures growing coagulase-negative staphylococci

The Lancet ◽

10.1016/s0140-6736(95)91254-1 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 346 (8968) ◽

pp. 191-192 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

S.J. Peacock ◽

I.C.J.W. Bowler ◽

D.W.M. Crook

Keyword(s):

Positive Predictive Value ◽

Predictive Value ◽

Blood Cultures ◽

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci

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Elastography for the Diagnosis of High-Suspicion Thyroid Nodules Based on the 2015 American Thyroid Association Guidelines: A Multicenter Study

10.21203/rs.2.17002/v4 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Hairu Li ◽

Yulan Peng ◽

Yan Wang ◽

Hong Ai ◽

Xiaodong Zhou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Logistic Regression ◽

Regression Analysis ◽

Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

Predictive Value ◽

Thyroid Nodules ◽

Reference Method ◽

Final Analysis ◽

American Thyroid Association ◽

Diagnostic Efficiency ◽

Sensitivity Specificity

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Investigation of Antimicrobial Susceptibilities Among Bacteria Isolated from Blood Cultures in Hospitalized Patients, Tehran, Iran

Archives of Clinical Infectious Diseases ◽

10.5812/archcid.86878 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Shadi Aghamohammad ◽

Maryam Nouri ◽

Fatemeh Ashrafian ◽

Mohtaram Sadat Kashi ◽

Mehrdad Gholami ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Culture ◽

Positive Blood Culture ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Clinical Laboratory ◽

Blood Cultures ◽

Multi Drug Resistance ◽

National Committee ◽

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽

Gram Positive ◽

Cross Sectional

Background: Bacteremia is the status, which is detected via a positive blood culture test with no contamination. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that direct medical procedures and total costs are significantly high. Antibiotic resistance can play a major role in the costs, which are related to the long duration of treatment. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the rate and profiles of antimicrobial susceptibility of blood culture isolates from Tehran, Iran. Methods: In the current cross-sectional study, a total of 5,000 blood culture samples were collected from patients hospitalized in the Loghman General Hospital, Tehran, Iran, with positive blood culture results from 2012 to 2013. Susceptibility to antimicrobial agents was analyzed using National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards guidelines. Results: Coagulase-negative staphylococci (38.8%), Staphylococcus aureus (20.5%), Acinetobacter (11.9%), and Escherichia coli (11.7%) were the most frequent bacteria isolated from the blood cultures, collectively accounting for > 80% of the isolates. Of isolated microorganisms, 63.75% and 36.24% belonged to Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, respectively. Moreover, 88% of the isolates were MRSA (oxacillin-/methicillin-resistant), and 7% were VRE (vancomycin-resistant). Conclusions: The most frequent isolated organisms were Gram-positive bacteria, and the rate of MDR (multi-drug resistance) was high. The results of the current study obviously indicate the misuse of antibiotic in society. National surveillance studies in Iran will be useful for clinicians to choose the right empirical treatment and will help control and prevent infections caused by resistant organisms.

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Elastography for the Diagnosis of High-Suspicion Thyroid Nodules Based on the 2015 American Thyroid Association Guidelines: A Multicenter Study

10.21203/rs.2.17002/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Hairu Li ◽

Yulan Peng ◽

Yan Wang ◽

Hong Ai ◽

Xiaodong Zhou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Logistic Regression ◽

Regression Analysis ◽

Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

Predictive Value ◽

Thyroid Nodules ◽

Reference Method ◽

Final Analysis ◽

American Thyroid Association ◽

Diagnostic Efficiency ◽

Sensitivity Specificity

Abstract Background: An accurate diagnosis for high-suspicion nodules based on the 2015 American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines would reduce unnecessary invasive examinations. Elastography is a useful tool for discriminating benign and malignant thyroid nodules. Aims: To investigate the diagnostic efficiency of elastography for high-suspicion thyroid nodules based on the 2015 ATA guidelines in the Chinese population. Materials and Methods: Thyroid nodules with high-suspicion characteristics based on the 2015 ATA guidelines were subjected to conventional ultrasound (US) and ultrasound strain elastography (USE) examinations at 12 hospitals from 4 geographic regions across China. Cytology/histology of thyroid nodules was used as a reference method. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the elasticity score (ES) and strain ratio (SR). Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of malignancy. Results: Overall, a total of 1445 thyroid nodules (834 malignant, 611 benign) from 12 centers were included in the final analysis. The areas under the curve of the ES and SR were 0.828 and 0.732, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the ES were 92.4%, 60.7%, 79.0%, 76.3% and 85.5% , respectively, and those of the SR were 81.1%, 50.1%, 68.9%, 65.9% and 67.9%, respectively. The combination of the Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) and ES led to a significant increase in the sensitivity and NPV (97.1% and 91.9%, respectively) compared with the TI-RADS alone. Logistic regression analysis showed that microcalcifications (OR=5.290), taller than wide (OR=12.710), irregular margins (OR=10.117), extrathyroidal extension (ETE; OR=6.412), the ES (OR=3.741) and the SR (OR=1.083) were independent predictors of malignant thyroid nodules. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV and NPV of the ES were all superior in nodules ≥1 cm than in those <1 cm (95.0% vs 90.4%, 68.8% vs 56.8%, 85.9% vs 74.4%, 85.2% vs 69.9%, and 87.8% vs 84.2%, respectively). Conclusions: Elastography combined with the ES is a valuable tool for the assessment of high-suspicion thyroid nodules based on the 2015 ATA guidelines, especially in nodules ≥1 cm.

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