Abstract
Rapid, accurate and inexpensive diagnosis of bacterial meningitis is critical for patient management. This study describes the development and evaluation of a multiplex PCR assay for the detection of Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae type b, which globally account for 90% of cases of bacterial meningitis. The single-tube assay, based on the ctrA, ply and bex targets, respectively, enabled detection of 5-10 pg DNA. When the assay was tested with clinical samples (n = 425), its sensitivity for the three targets was 93.9%, 92.3% and 88%, respectively, while the overall specificity and positive predictive value of the assay was 100%. The negative predictive value was 99.1-99.5%. The methodology permits rapid and accurate detection of the three main pathogens that cause bacterial meningitis.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Bacterial Proteins / genetics
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DNA, Bacterial / analysis
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
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Diagnosis, Differential
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Haemophilus influenzae type b / genetics
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Haemophilus influenzae type b / isolation & purification*
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Humans
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Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics
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Meningitis, Bacterial / diagnosis*
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Meningitis, Haemophilus / diagnosis
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Meningitis, Meningococcal / diagnosis
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Meningitis, Pneumococcal / diagnosis
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Neisseria meningitidis / genetics
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Neisseria meningitidis / isolation & purification*
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Pneumococcal Infections / diagnosis*
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Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
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Sensitivity and Specificity
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Streptococcus pneumoniae / genetics
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Streptococcus pneumoniae / isolation & purification*
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Streptolysins / genetics
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Transcription Factors / genetics
Substances
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Bacterial Proteins
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CtrA protein, Caulobacter
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DNA, Bacterial
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Membrane Transport Proteins
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Streptolysins
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Transcription Factors
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plY protein, Streptococcus pneumoniae
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bexB protein, Haemophilus influenzae