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Multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay developed to diagnose adult bacterial meningitis in Taiwan
Author(s) -
Lee ChiTsung,
Hsiao KuangMing,
Chen JinCherng,
Su ChengChuan
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
apmis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1600-0463
pISSN - 0903-4641
DOI - 10.1111/apm.12437
Subject(s) - microbiology and biotechnology , streptococcus pneumoniae , multiplex polymerase chain reaction , acinetobacter baumannii , klebsiella pneumoniae , pseudomonas aeruginosa , biology , meningitis , staphylococcus aureus , bacteria , polymerase chain reaction , pathogenic bacteria , multiplex , escherichia coli , virology , medicine , antibiotics , gene , bioinformatics , biochemistry , genetics , psychiatry
Acute bacterial meningitis causes high morbidity and mortality; the associated clinical symptoms often are insensitive or non‐specific; and the pathogenic bacteria are geographically diverse. Clinical diagnosis requires a rapid and accurate methodology. This study aimed to develop a new multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) assay to detect simultaneously six major bacteria that cause adult bacterial meningitis in Taiwan: Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Acinetobacter baumannii . Species‐specific primers for the six bacteria were developed using reference strains. The specificities of the mPCRs for these bacteria were validated, and the sensitivities were evaluated via serial dilutions. The mPCR assay specifically detected all of the six pathogens, particularly with sensitivities of 12 colony forming units (CFU)/mL, 90 CFU/mL, and 390 CFU/mL for E. coli, S. pneumoniae, and K. pneumoniae, respectively. This mPCR assay is a rapid and specific tool to detect the six major bacterial pathogens that cause acute adult meningitis in Taiwan, particularly sensitive for detecting E. coli, S. pneumoniae, and K. pneumoniae . The assay may facilitate early diagnosis and guidance for antimicrobial therapy for adult patients with this deadly disease in Taiwan.