Identification of Cardiobacterium hominis by broad-range bacterial polymerase chain reaction analysis in a case of culture-negative endocarditis.
Culture-negative bacterial endocarditis may be attributed to fastidious microorganisms, prior institution of antibiotic treatment, or both. We describe a case of culture-negative endocarditis in which a modified Steiner stain revealed bacterial structures in the resected heart valve material. Prompted by this finding, broad-range polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of small-subunit ribosomal DNA (16S rDNA) was performed, and Cardiobacterium hominis sequences were detected. This case demonstrates the usefulness of both the Steiner stain and broad-range direct molecular amplification as supplemental diagnostic tools in identification of otherwise unexplained infections.
Nikkari
Simo
S
Palo Alto Vetrans Affairs Health Care System, Calif, USA. simo.nikkari@mobidiag.com
Gotoff
Robert
R
Bourbeau
Paul P
PP
Brown
Robert E
RE
Kamal
Nazmi R
NR
Relman
David A
DA
D004396:Coloring Agents; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D006088:Gram-Negative Aerobic Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*
D004396:Coloring Agents