Direct detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae in positive blood cultures by real-time polymerase chain reaction.
We developed a real-time polymerase chain reaction specific for Streptococcus pneumoniae to be applied directly from blood culture bottles without previous DNA extraction step. For the 128 blood culture bottles tested, the assay had 94% and 98.4% sensitivity and specificity, respectively. This assay provides rapid and accurate identification of this pathogen.
Selva
Laura
L
Molecular Microbiology Department, University Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues-Barcelona, Spain.
Esteva
Cristina
C
Gené
Amadeu
A
de Sevilla
Maria Fernández
MF
Hernandez-Bou
Susanna
S
Muñoz-Almagro
Carmen
C
D000293:Adolescent; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification*