Ribosomal DNA assay of culture-negative Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis

Culture-negative bacterial meningitis with secondary complications remains a significant challenge. Optimal treatment requires identification of the infecting organism. While the gold standard for diagnosis remains cerebrospinal fluid culturing, a significant number of cultures remain negative despite clinical evidence of meningitis. This patient illustrates the usefulness of polymerase chain reaction technology in identifying a specific organism, in an otherwise culture-negative bacterial meningitis with spinal cord abscess.