Rapid Real-Time PCR for Determination of Penicillin Susceptibility in Pneumococcal Meningitis, Including Culture-Negative Cases

Abstract
A novel real-time PCR-hybridization assay was developed for the rapid (Streptococcus pneumoniae. When applied to 24 pneumococcal DNA-positive cerebrospinal fluid extracts, penicillin-sensitiveS. pneumoniaewas detected in all instances. Real-time PCR proved more sensitive than culture, microscopy, or antigen detection and provided susceptibility data even in culture-negative cases.