Multiplex-PCR for Diagnosis of Bacterial Meningitis

Overview

Journal Braz J Microbiol

Specialty Microbiology

Date 2019 Feb 24

PMID 30796713

Citations 11

Authors

Renata Chaves Albuquerque

Ana Carolina Ramos Moreno

Silvia Regina Dos Santos

Selma Lopes Betta Ragazzi

Marina Baquerizo Martinez

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Considering the great lethality and sequels caused by meningitis, rapid diagnosis and prompt treatment initiation have a great impact on patient outcome. Here, we developed a multiplex-PCR for simultaneous detection of the four most prevalent bacterial pathogens directly in CSF samples. The multiplex-PCR was designed to detect the following genes: fbsA (Streptococcus agalactiae), lytA (Streptococcus pneumoniae), crtA (Neisseria meningitidis), p6 (Haemophilus influenzae), and 16S rRNA (any bacterial agent). The multiplex-PCR showed a DNA detection limit of 1 pg/μL. Among 447 CSF samples tested, 40 were multiplex-PCR positive, in which 27 and 13 had positive and negative bacterial culture, respectively. Our multiplex-PCR is fast, reliable, and easily implementable into a laboratory routine for bacterial meningitis confirmation, especially for patients who previously started antimicrobial therapy. Our molecular approach can substantially improve clinical diagnosis and epidemiological measures of meningitis disease burden.

Citing Articles

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