RAPID DIAGNOSIS OF BACTERIAL-MENINGITIS BY A SEMINESTED PCR STRATEGY

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based diagnostic assay has been deve loped for the simultaneous detection in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of N eisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumonia e, Streptococcus agalactiae, Listeria monocytogenes and bacteria in ge neral, In the present communication we describe the design of primers for S. pneumoniae, S. agalactiae, and L. monocytogenes, and a general PCR protocol for the assay. The diagnostic outcome is presented for a small collection of CSF specimens including 2 samples from patients wi th culture-negative purulent meningitis.