IDENTIFICATION OF A PATIENT WITH STREPTOCOCCUS-PNEUMONIAE BACTEREMIA AND MENINGITIS BY THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION (PCR)

Authors
ISAACMAN DJ ZHANG YZ RYDQUISTWHITE J WADOWSKY RM POST JC EHRLICH GD
Citation
Dj. Isaacman et al., IDENTIFICATION OF A PATIENT WITH STREPTOCOCCUS-PNEUMONIAE BACTEREMIA AND MENINGITIS BY THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION (PCR), Molecular and cellular probes, 9(3), 1995, pp. 157-160
Citations number
24
Categorie Soggetti
Cell Biology",Biology
Journal title
Molecular and cellular probes → ACNP
ISSN journal
08908508
Volume
9
Issue
3
Year of publication
1995
Pages
157 - 160
Database
ISI
SICI code
0890-8508(1995)9:3<157:IOAPWS>2.0.ZU;2-M
Abstract
A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay based on the penicillin-bindin g protein gene PBP2B identified the presence of DNA specific for Strep tococcus pneumoniae in the serum and CSF of a patient with culture-pro ven bacteremia and meningitis. Positive signals were seen to dilutions of 1:125 and 1:390,625 for the blood and CSF specimens, respectively. Potential advantages of PCR over conventional culture include exquisi te sensitivity, faster results and the ability to identify the organis ms by the presence of species-specific DNA even in patients pretreated with antibiotics.