PCR identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and direct detection in clinical samples from cystic fibrosis patients

This report describes a PCR primer pair that targets the algD GDP mannose g ene of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and produces a specific 520-bp PCR product us eful for P. aeruginosa identification. This PCR assay was tested with 182 i solates of I! aeruginosa and 20 isolates of other bacterial species, and de monstrated 100% specificity and sensitivity. The test was also able to dete ct I! aeruginosa directly in clinical samples such as sputum or throat swab s obtained from cystic fibrosis patients. The combination of this primer wi th a universal bacterial primer, acting as a control to assess DNA quality in the sample, resulted in a robust PCR method that can be used for rapid P . aeruginosa detection.