Rapid real-time PCR for determination of penicillin susceptibility in pneumococcal meningitis, including culture-negative cases.

ABSTRACT: A novel real-time PCR-hybridization assay was developed for the rapid (<1 h) detection of penicillin susceptibility in Streptococcus pneumoniae. When applied to 24 pneumococcal DNA-positive cerebrospinal fluid extracts, penicillin-sensitive S. pneumoniae was detected in all instances. Real-time PCR proved more sensitive than culture, microscopy, or antigen detection and provided susceptibility data even in culture-negative cases.

SUBMITTER: Kearns AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC153399 | biostudies-literature | 2002 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature