Objectives: To propose and verify a PCR assay for detecting Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus species, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis serogroups B and C in a single sample of the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with purulent meningitis.

Material And Methods: DNA from the cerebrospinal fluid was isolated using the QIAamp DNA Mini Kit. PCR was performed as two-step amplification (nested PCR). For E. coli, H. influenzae, L. monocytogenes, S. species and S. pneumoniae, universal and species-specific primers encoding bacterial 16S rDNA were used in the first and second reaction, respectively. For N. meningitidis serogroups B and C, an amplification system with primers for the SiaD gene was utilized.

Results: Of 25 patients examined at the beginning of their treatment, bacterial DNA was detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of 17 (68 %) of them. Those were six cases of N. meningitidis serogroup B, four of N. meningitidis serogroup C, five of S. pneumoniae, one of H. influenzae and one of L. monocytogenes. Of 7 patients in whom antibiotic therapy was initiated prior to diagnostic lumbar puncture, PCR was positive in four cases.

Conclusions: The proposed nested PCR approach is faster than traditional culture methods and suitable for early laboratory diagnosis of infectious agents. When compared to culture methods, the technique offers slightly higher positivity (by 16 %). This is similar in samples analyzed after the initiation of antibiotic therapy. The PCR method never detected other bacteria than the cultured ones.

Download full-text PDF

Source

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

cerebrospinal fluid
16
bacterial dna
8
dna cerebrospinal
8
fluid patients
8
patients purulent
8
meningitidis serogroups
8
nested pcr
8
influenzae monocytogenes
8
meningitidis serogroup
8
antibiotic therapy
8

Similar Publications

Sequential testing with Xpert MTB/RIF assay for diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis in Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai University Hospital.

Sci Rep

January 2025

Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, 110 Intavaroros Rd., Muaeng, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand.

Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are essential for reducing morbidity and mortality in tuberculous meningitis (TBM). This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay for the diagnosis of TBM in patients with subacute lymphocytic meningitis. This cross-sectional study included 65 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens from patients at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai University Hospital, Thailand, between January 2015 and March 2016.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Much evidence suggests that the choroid plexus (CP) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but its imaging profile in neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE) remains unexplored. To evaluate CP volume in NPSLE patients using MRI. This retrospective study evaluated patients with SLE who underwent MRI of the brain, including three-dimensional T1-weighted imaging.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Increased plasma DOPA decarboxylase levels in Lewy body disorders are driven by dopaminergic treatment.

Nat Commun

January 2025

Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Amsterdam Neuroscience, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

DOPA Decarboxylase (DDC) has been proposed as a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker with increased concentrations in Lewy body disorders (LBDs) and highest levels in patients receiving dopaminergic treatment. Here we evaluate plasma DDC, measured by proximity extension assay, and the effect of dopaminergic treatment in three independent LBD (with a focus on dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson's disease (PD)) cohorts: an autopsy-confirmed cohort (n = 71), a large multicenter, cross-dementia cohort (n = 1498) and a longitudinal cohort with detailed treatment information (n = 66, median follow-up time[IQR] = 4[4, 4] years). Plasma DDC was not altered between different LBDs and other disease groups or controls in absence of treatment.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Comparison of mNGS with conventional methods for diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis: a retrospective study.

Sci Rep

January 2025

Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Department of Neurology, Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China.

The application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in the diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis is relatively under characterized. Here, we retrospectively evaluated data from cryptococcal meningitis patients who were tested using mNGS and/or routine testing, including fungal culture, India ink staining, and cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) testing. The performance of mNGS was then assessed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Posterior fossa ring-enhancing lesions (PFREL) in the adult immunocompetent hosts pose a diagnostic challenge. We aimed to evaluate the spectrum of PFREL etiologies and propose a diagnostic algorithm.

Methods: This study involved a retrospective analysis of PFREL cases from our institution (January 2023 to April 2024) and a systematic literature review conducted using Embase and PubMed databases following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!