title: Ribosomal DNA assay of culture-negative Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis.
abstract: Culture-negative bacterial meningitis with secondary complications remains a significant challenge. Optimal treatment requires identification of the infecting organism. While the gold standard for diagnosis remains cerebrospinal fluid culturing, a significant number of cultures remain negative despite clinical evidence of meningitis. This patient illustrates the usefulness of polymerase chain reaction technology in identifying a specific organism, in an otherwise culture-negative bacterial meningitis with spinal cord abscess.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California 92540, USA. cmcclure@ahs.llumc.edu
authors.forename: Donald L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Janner
authors.forename: Will S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Probert
authors.forename: Chalmer D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: McClure
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D002439:Cefotaxime / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D020802:Epidural Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000382:microbiology; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D014640:Vancomycin; D002439:Cefotaxime