title: A polymerase chain reaction-enzyme immunoassay for diagnosis of pneumococcal meningitis in children and adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  meningitis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae is common among children and adults. In this study a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for diagnosis of pneumococcal meningitis was evaluated prospectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  a total of 61 cerebrospinal fluid specimens were included prospectively using defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. These samples were studied by PCR-EIA and results compared with conventional microbiological procedures and antigen detection techniques. Primers were used against the conserved region of the pneumococcal autolysin gene and the amplified product was labelled using the digoxigenin-labelled dUTP. The product was detected by an enzyme immuno assay (EIA) after hybridization with a biotin labelled probe.
  
  
  RESULTS
  a total of 15 specimens were positive for S.pneumoniae by one or more methods used. Culture for S.pneumoniae was positive in 13 specimens, PCR-EIA was positive in 11 of these specimens with an additional pickup of 2 specimens and latex agglutination (LA) positive only in one.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  sensitivity and specificity of 84.6 and 95.8 per cent respectively were observed with PCR-EIA. It seems to be a good tool for the diagnosis of pneumococcal meningitis especially in cases of partially treated pyogenic meningitis.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Microbiology, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, India.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Lalitha
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cherian
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pai
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Steinhoff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055815:Young Adult