Spontaneous meningitis due to Streptococcus salivarius subsp. salivarius: cross-reaction in an assay with a rapid diagnostic kit that detected Streptococcus pneumoniae antigens.
Streptococcus salivarius subsp. salivarius occasionally causes meningitis associated with iatrogenic or traumatic events. We herein describe a case of meningitis caused by this organism in a patient without any apparent risk factors. In an assay of the patient's cerebrospinal fluid, cross-reaction occurred with Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen-coated latex particles in the Pastorex Meningitis Kit. In the in vitro assays, three of the five clinically isolated S. salivarius strains showed cross-reactions with the kit, indicating that these strains expressed pneumococcal antigen-like antigens. This case shows that meningitis caused by S. salivarius can occur spontaneously and it may sometimes be misdiagnosed as S. pneumoniae infection.
Department of General Medicine and Primary Care, Tsukuba Medical Center Hospital, Japan.
Taijiro
T
Shirokawa
Jun
J
Nakajima
Kazuhito
K
Hirose
Hiromichi
H
Suzuki
Shoko
S
Nagaoka
Masatsune
M
Suzuki
D000368:Aged; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000592:standards*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013997:Time Factors
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic