title: Simultaneous detection of Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus sp. by polymerase chain reaction for the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis.
abstract: The simultaneous detection of Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus sp. was assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis, as well as the applicability of PCR as a routine test. A cohort study was carried out with 182 children (2 months to 12 years of age) with suspicion of bacterial meningitis. Routine tests identified the etiologic agent in 65/84 children whose clinical status and laboratory findings suggested the presence of bacterial meningitis. Bacterial meningitis was ruled out in 98 children. In 19 children, the etiologic diagnosis was not possible using standard methods; in 14 of these patients, the etiologic agent was identified by PCR (N. meningitidis=12; H. influenzae=1; Streptococcus sp.=1). The sensitivity of PCR was 88.1%; specificity, 99.0%; positive predictive value, 98.7%; and negative predictive, 90.1%. PCR is a useful complementary diagnostic technique, especially when Gram stain, culture, or antigenic detection are negative or inconclusive.
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Failace
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chesky
authors.forename: Rosana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scalco
authors.forename: Luiz Fernando
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Jobim
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000175:diagnosis; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000175:diagnosis; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*