title: Identification of a patient with Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteremia and meningitis by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
abstract: A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay based on the penicillin-binding protein gene PBP2B identified the presence of DNA specific for Streptococcus pneumoniae in the serum and CSF of a patient with culture-proven 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 exquisite sensitivity, faster results and the ability to identify the organisms by the presence of species-specific DNA even in patients pretreated with antibiotics.
mesh_terms: D019881:Aminoacyltransferases; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase / Q000235:genetics; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D019881:Aminoacyltransferases; C478701:penicillin-binding protein 2b, Streptococcus; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase