Erschienen in:
01.07.2007 | Pediatric Original
Detection of Neisseria meningitidis DNA from skin lesion biopsy using real-time PCR: usefulness in the aetiological diagnosis of purpura fulminans
verfasst von:
Pierre Staquet, Ludovic Lemee, Eva Verdier, Guy Bonmarchand, Vincent Laudenbach, Christine Michel, Jean-Francois Lemeland, Stephane Marret, Thierry Blanc
Erschienen in:
Intensive Care Medicine
|
Ausgabe 7/2007
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Abstract
Objective
The present study evaluated the usefulness of a real-time polymerase chain reaction (rtPCR) assay for the detection of Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) and genogrouping on skin lesion biopsies in patients with purpura fulminans (PF).
Design
Retrospective single-centre study.
Setting
Adult and paediatric intensive care units at the University Hospital of Rouen.
Patients
All patients admitted between January 2000 and January 2006, with a final diagnosis of PF and for which a skin biopsy and blood cultures were performed, were included.
Interventions
Skin biopsy and blood cultures were used for culture and rtPCR.
Measurements and main results
Thirty-four patients fulfilled the criteria (27 children and 7 adults). Nm rtPCR performed on skin biopsy was positive in 100% (34/34) of cases, compared with only 14.7% (5/34) for skin culture (p = 0.0001). rtPCR genogrouping on skin biopsy was positive in 58.8% (20/34) of the cases compared with 14.7% (5/34) for skin culture (p = 0.0013). For patients (n = 17) in whom rtPCR was performed both on blood and skin biopsy, skin biopsy gave a significantly higher rate of Nm detection [100% (17/17) vs. 58.8% (10/17); p = 0.023] and genogroup characterisation [76.5% (13/17) vs. 35.3% (6/17); p = 0.045] than blood. We encountered no specimen with culture-positive and rtPCR-negative results (negative predictive value of rtPCR 100%).
Conclusion
In suspected PF cases, skin biopsy is more reliable to identify Nm and its genogroup than blood or, probably, CSF, especially when PCR methods are used. This could help the implementation of public health interventions, especially concerning a vaccination policy.