Identification of the bacterial etiology of culture-negative endocarditis by amplification and sequencing of a small ribosomal RNA gene

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2003 May;46(1):9-11. doi: 10.1016/s0732-8893(03)00011-7.

Abstract

We report two cases of culture-negative bacterial endocarditis in which the organisms were identified by amplification and sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. These results support an important role for polymerase chain reaction followed by direct sequencing to determine the etiology of culture-negative bacterial endocarditis and to guide appropriate antimicrobial therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Drug Therapy, Combination / administration & dosage
  • Echocardiography, Doppler
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / diagnostic imaging
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / drug therapy
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / microbiology*
  • False Negative Reactions
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • RNA, Bacterial / analysis
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / analysis*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Streptococcus / classification*
  • Streptococcus / genetics

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • RNA, Bacterial
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S