Evaluation of Viral and Bacterial Pathogens in the Central Nervous System Infections with Multiplex PCR

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the bacterial and viral causes of central nervous system (CNS) infection by multiplex PCR. Study Design: Descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Medical Microbiology, Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine, Turkey, from March 2016 to December 2021. Methodology: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of patients prediagnosed with CNS infection were included in the study. Viral pathogens were detected with the Multiplex real-time PCR panel (FTD Neuro9, Fast Track Diagnostics, Luxembourg) and bacterial pathogens with the multiplex real-time PCR panel (FTD Bacterial Meningitis, Fast Track Diagnostics, Luxembourg). The identification of bacteria growing in samples was done by conventional methods and with the Phoenix™ (Becton Dickinson Diagnostics, USA) automated system. Results: CSF samples of 440 patients were evaluated using multiplex PCR panel. The viral factors included adenovirus (14.2%), human herpes virus 7 (1.5%), varicella zoster virus (1.3%), herpes simplex virus 1 (1.3%), cytomegalovirus (1.3%), Epstein-Barr virus (0.8%), human herpes virus (0.8%), herpes simplex virus 2 (0.3%), varicella zoster virus (0.3%), and parvovirus B19 (0.3%); and bacterial factors included Streptococcus pneumoniae (7.0%) and Neisseria meningitidis (0.9%). The bacterial growth was detected in the CSF culture was 4.9%. Among the growing bacteria, there were six different types that were not found on the multiplex PCR panel. Conclusion: The use of a comprehensive bacterial multiplex PCR panel containing common pathogens will be more effective in pathogen detection. Care should be taken, especially when interpreting the viral Multiplex PCR. © 2022 College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan. All rights reserved.