Feasibility of real-time polymerase chain reaction in whole blood to identify Streptococcus pneumoniae in patients with community-acquired pneumonia.
We assessed a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting the lytA and ply gene of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Both assays were applied to whole blood samples from 28 adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia. Our findings suggest the lytA PCR is more sensitive, and the quantitative aspect of the assay shows promise as an aid to clinical judgment.
Kee
Cordelia
C
School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth 6009, Western Australia. ckee@meddent.uwa.edu.au
Palladino
Silvano
S
Kay
Ian
I
Pryce
Todd M
TM
Murray
Ronan
R
Rello
Jordi
J
Gallego
Miquel
M
Lujan
Manel
M
Muñoz-Almagro
Carmen
C
Waterer
Grant W
GW
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D011018:Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013301:Streptolysins / Q000235:genetics
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D013301:Streptolysins; C032290:plY protein, Streptococcus pneumoniae