[Molecular Approaches for the Diagnosis of Central Nervous System Infections]

In recent years, molecular microbiology techniques have proven to be a useful supplement to conventional assays not only in identification of strains from culture, but also in direct detection of pathogens from clinical specimens. This review explores the application of molecular diagnostic techniques for infectious diseases in certain clinical contexts. It aims to assess how these molecular techniques can be integrated to enhance diagnostic capabilities for infectious diseases of the central nervous system. Finally, it emphasizes the need for close collaboration between physicians and clinical microbiologists when considering molecular diagnostics from unusual specimens/cases, because assays must be customized according to the clinical settings.