title: Improved detection of bacterial central nervous system infections by use of a broad-range PCR assay.
abstract: A universal PCR assay for bacteria and fungi detected meningitis pathogens in 65% of 20 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients with suspected central nervous system (CNS) infections compared to a 35% detection rate by culture and/or microscopy methods. Thus, the PCR assay can improve the diagnosis rate of infective meningitis when standard methods provide a negative result.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Franke
authors.forename: S K A
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Polywka
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lütgehetmann
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gbadamosi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Magnus
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aepfelbacher
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D002494:Central Nervous System Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial