title: PCR and DNA sequencing in establishing the aetiology of bacterial infections in children.
abstract: The results of partial polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and subsequent DNA sequencing of clinical samples from children are described. In 13 out of 62 samples, DNA from bacteria likely to be the cause of infection was identified. In the vast majority (11/13) of samples with significant pathogen culture the specimen had been negative. Antibiotics had been given in all cases except for three prior to sampling. PCR and subsequent DNA sequencing is a valuable supplementary tool for establishing the cause of bacterial infections in children when culture is negative.
authors.affiliation: The Laboratory for Clinical Microbiology at Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark. gleesen2@stofanet.dk
authors.forename: Ann Sofie
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Gleesen
authors.forename: Cecilie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grarup
authors.forename: Rimtas
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dargis
authors.forename: Keld
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Andresen
authors.forename: Jens Jørgen
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kemp
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S