Identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae lytA, plyA and psaA genes in pleural fluid by multiplex real-time PCR

Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin (Engl Ed). 2018 Aug-Sep;36(7):428-430. doi: 10.1016/j.eimc.2017.07.007. Epub 2017 Aug 14.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

Introduction: The aim was to evaluate the utility of a multiplex real-time PCR to detect Streptococcus pneumoniae lytA, plyA and psaA genes in pleural fluid (PF).

Methods: A collection of 81 PF samples was used. Sixty were considered positive for S. pneumoniae according to previous results (54 by an in-house lytA gene PCR and eight by universal rRNA PCR).

Results: The sensitivity for detection of the lytA, plyA and psaA genes by multiplex PCR was 100% (60/60), 98.3% (59/60) and 91.7% (55/60), respectively. The detection of all three genes was negative in 21 samples formerly confirmed as negative for S. pneumoniae (100% specificity) by the other procedures (9 by in-house lytA PCR and 12 by rRNA PCR).

Conclusions: The use of this multiplex PCR may be a useful option to identify S. pneumoniae directly in PF samples.

Keywords: Líquido pleural; Multiplex real-time PCR; PCR múltiple en tiempo real; Pleural fluid; Streptococcus pneumoniae.

MeSH terms

  • Genes, Bacterial*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / methods*
  • Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction*
  • Pleural Effusion / microbiology*
  • Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / diagnosis*
  • Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / microbiology
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / analysis
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / genetics*

Substances

  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S