title: Evaluation of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for diagnosing Haemophilus influenzae b meningitis.
abstract: A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detecting Hib in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was evaluated and compared with culture and a latex agglutination test (LAT) in a hospital-based prospective surveillance. We studied 107 children aged from 1 month to 12 years with a clinical and CSF profile suggestive of acute bacterial meningitis. CSF culture was performed on blood-chocolate agar by standard technique, LAT by a commercially available kit (Wellcogen) and PCR using total DNA extracted from CSF samples. Of 107 children, 79% had received one or more doses of injectable antibiotics. Hib was detected by culture in 14 cases, by LAT in 23 and by PCR in 37. All CSF samples that reveal Hib by culture or LAT had a PCR positive for Hib (sensitivity 100%). PCR also detected 14 additional cases of Hib meningitis which were not detected by culture or LAT. We conclude that PCR is a sensitive and specific diagnostic tool that may be valuable in a population with high pre-hospital antibiotic usage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh-160012, India. drsinghi@glide.net.in
authors.forename: Sunit C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Singhi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mohankumar
authors.forename: Pratibha D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Singhi
authors.forename: Sunita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sapru
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Ganguly
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003470:Culture Media; D005260:Female; D019741:Haemophilus influenzae type b / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000592:standards*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003470:Culture Media