The diagnosis of Streptococcus pneumoniae infections

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Abstract
The diagnosis of infection by Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important task for microbiology laboratories in view of its prevalence, high mortality and the recent spread of penicillin resistance. ELISA, CIE, LA and CoAG methods have been described for the detection of capsular polysaccharide (CPS) and C-polysaccharide (PnC) in sputum and all have similar sensitivity. Antigen detection in serum has a low diagnostic yield unless bacteraemia is present. Detection of antigen in urine is more sensitive but the need to concentrate the specimen has limited the application of this technique in routine practice. The polymerase chain reaction for an autolysin gene shows promise for diagnosis in blood and sputum.

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