This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Gillespie, S H Articles by Emery, V Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Gillespie, S H Articles by Emery, V

Detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae in sputum samples by PCR.

Division of Communicable Diseases, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London, United Kingdom.

ABSTRACT

A method for the detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae in sputum samples by PCR has been developed. The assay employs oligonucleotide primers specific for a portion of the autolysin gene lytA of S. pneumoniae. Other closely related streptococci, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis do not give a positive result in the assay. The assay was capable of detecting between 10 and 100 CFU of S. pneumoniae in distilled water and 1.4 x 10(4) CFU/ml in simulated sputum samples. Sputum samples from 33 patients with acute pneumonia were collected and subjected to culture, PCR, and C-polysaccharide antigen detection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A significant isolate of S. pneumoniae was isolated from 14 patients, of which 13 were positive by PCR and C-polysaccharide antigen ELISA. No positive results were obtained for the 19 patients in whom other pathogens or upper respiratory tract floras only were isolated. The sensitivity of the autolysin PCR is 92.8%, the specificity is 100%, the predictive value of a positive result is 100%, and the predictive value of a negative result is 95%. This suggests that autolysin PCR is suitable for the detection of S. pneumoniae in clinical samples.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Suzuki, N., Yuyama, M., Maeda, S., Ogawa, H., Mashiko, K., Kiyoura, Y. (2006). Genotypic identification of presumptive Streptococcus pneumoniae by PCR using four genes highly specific for S. pneumoniae. J Med Microbiol 55: 709-714 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Llull, D., Lopez, R., Garcia, E. (2006). Characteristic Signatures of the lytA Gene Provide a Basis for Rapid and Reliable Diagnosis of Streptococcus pneumoniae Infections. J. Clin. Microbiol. 44: 1250-1256 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Whalan, R. H., Funnell, S. G. P., Bowler, L. D., Hudson, M. J., Robinson, A., Dowson, C. G. (2006). Distribution and Genetic Diversity of the ABC Transporter Lipoproteins PiuA and PiaA within Streptococcus pneumoniae and Related Streptococci. J. Bacteriol. 188: 1031-1038 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Yang, S., Lin, S., Khalil, A., Gaydos, C., Nuemberger, E., Juan, G., Hardick, J., Bartlett, J. G., Auwaerter, P. G., Rothman, R. E. (2005). Quantitative PCR Assay Using Sputum Samples for Rapid Diagnosis of Pneumococcal Pneumonia in Adult Emergency Department Patients. J. Clin. Microbiol. 43: 3221-3226 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Seki, M., Yamashita, Y., Torigoe, H., Tsuda, H., Sato, S., Maeno, M. (2005). Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Method Targeting the lytA Gene for Detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae. J. Clin. Microbiol. 43: 1581-1586 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Okitsu, N., Kaieda, S., Yano, H., Nakano, R., Hosaka, Y., Okamoto, R., Kobayashi, T., Inoue, M. (2005). Characterization of ermB Gene Transposition by Tn1545 and Tn917 in Macrolide-Resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae Isolates. J. Clin. Microbiol. 43: 168-173 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Picard, F. J., Ke, D., Boudreau, D. K., Boissinot, M., Huletsky, A., Richard, D., Ouellette, M., Roy, P. H., Bergeron, M. G. (2004). Use of tuf Sequences for Genus-Specific PCR Detection and Phylogenetic Analysis of 28 Streptococcal Species. J. Clin. Microbiol. 42: 3686-3695 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Verhelst, R., Kaijalainen, T., De Baere, T., Verschraegen, G., Claeys, G., Van Simaey, L., De Ganck, C., Vaneechoutte, M. (2003). Comparison of Five Genotypic Techniques for Identification of Optochin-Resistant Pneumococcus-Like Isolates. J. Clin. Microbiol. 41: 3521-3525 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Balsalobre, L., Ferrandiz, M. J., Linares, J., Tubau, F., de la Campa, A. G. (2003). Viridans Group Streptococci Are Donors in Horizontal Transfer of Topoisomerase IV Genes to Streptococcus pneumoniae. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 47: 2072-2081 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Murdoch, D. R., Anderson, T. P., Beynon, K. A., Chua, A., Fleming, A. M., Laing, R. T. R., Town, G. I., Mills, G. D., Chambers, S. T., Jennings, L. C. (2003). Evaluation of a PCR Assay for Detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Respiratory and Nonrespiratory Samples from Adults with Community-Acquired Pneumonia. J. Clin. Microbiol. 41: 63-66 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Falguera, M., Lopez, A., Nogues, A., Porcel, J. M., Rubio-Caballero, M. (2002). Evaluation of the Polymerase Chain Reaction Method for Detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae DNA in Pleural Fluid Samples. Chest 122: 2212-2216 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• McAvin, J. C., Reilly, P. A., Roudabush, R. M., Barnes, W. J., Salmen, A., Jackson, G. W., Beninga, K. K., Astorga, A., McCleskey, F. K., Huff, W. B., Niemeyer, D., Lohman, K. L. (2001). Sensitive and Specific Method for Rapid Identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae Using Real-Time Fluorescence PCR. J. Clin. Microbiol. 39: 3446-3451 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• IGARASHI, T., YAMAMOTO, A., GOTO, N. (2000). PCR for detection and identification of Streptococcus sobrinus. J Med Microbiol 49: 1069-1074 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Ferrándiz, M. J., Fenoll, A., Liñares, J., De La Campa, A. G. (2000). Horizontal Transfer of parC and gyrA in Fluoroquinolone-Resistant Clinical Isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 44: 840-847 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Whatmore, A. M., Efstratiou, A., Pickerill, A. P., Broughton, K., Woodard, G., Sturgeon, D., George, R., Dowson, C. G. (2000). Genetic Relationships between Clinical Isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus oralis, and Streptococcus mitis: Characterization of "Atypical" Pneumococci and Organisms Allied to S. mitis Harboring S. pneumoniae Virulence Factor-Encoding Genes. Infect. Immun. 68: 1374-1382 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Kawamura, Y., Whiley, R. A., Shu, S.-E., Ezaki, T., Hardie, J. M. (1999). Genetic approaches to the identification of the mitis group within the genus Streptococcus. Microbiology 145: 2605-2613 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• O'Neill, A. M., Gillespie, S. H., Whiting, G. C. (1999). Detection of Penicillin Susceptibility in Streptococcus pneumoniae by pbp2b PCR-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis. J. Clin. Microbiol. 37: 157-160 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Fenoll, A., Jado, I., Vicioso, D., Pérez, A., Casal, J. (1998). Evolution of Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotypes and Antibiotic Resistance in Spain: Update (1990 to 1996). J. Clin. Microbiol. 36: 3447-3454 [Full Text]  
• Dagan, R., Shriker, O., Hazan, I., Leibovitz, E., Greenberg, D., Schlaeffer, F., Levy, R. (1998). Prospective Study To Determine Clinical Relevance of Detection of Pneumococcal DNA in Sera of Children by PCR. J. Clin. Microbiol. 36: 669-673 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• du Plessis, M., Smith, A. M., Klugman, K. P. (1998). Rapid Detection of Penicillin-Resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in Cerebrospinal Fluid by a Seminested-PCR Strategy. J. Clin. Microbiol. 36: 453-457 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Messmer, T. O., Whitney, C. G., Fields, B. S. (1997). Use of polymerase chain reaction to identify pneumococcal infection associated with hemorrhage and shock in two previously healthy young children. Clin. Chem. 43: 930-935 [Abstract] [Full Text]