Broad-range 16S rRNA PCR with cerebrospinal fluid may be unreliable for management of postoperative aseptic meningitis

J Clin Microbiol. 2010 Sep;48(9):3331-3. doi: 10.1128/JCM.00008-10. Epub 2010 Jun 30.

Abstract

We previously demonstrated that discontinuing presumptive antibiotic treatment in cases of negative conventional cultures is safe and effective for patients with postoperative aseptic meningitis (PAM). Here, we prospectively investigated 32 patients with postoperative meningitis. All 26 patients with PAM diagnosed on the basis of conventional cultures demonstrated negative 16S rRNA PCR results. Our results suggest that the PCR technique does not change PAM management.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Cerebrospinal Fluid / microbiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Meningitis, Aseptic / diagnosis*
  • Meningitis, Aseptic / therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / methods*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnosis*
  • Postoperative Complications / therapy
  • Prospective Studies
  • RNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics

Substances

  • RNA, Bacterial
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S