Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 3, 2026
Experimental Human Pneumococcal Carriage
Published on: February 15, 2013
Diagnostic value of serum pneumococcal DNA load during invasive pneumococcal infections
A J H Cremers1, F Hagen, P W M Hermans
1Laboratory of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Radboudumc, PO box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands, amelieke.cremers@radboudumc.nl.
Abstract:
Detection of pneumococcal DNA in blood could be a fast alternative for blood culture in invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). In this study we compared the diagnostic value of the serum pneumococcal DNA load between different clinical syndromes in adults with bacteremic pneumococcal infections, also after initiation of antibiotic treatment. Adults hospitalized with a blood culture proven pneumococcal infection between December 2008 and June 2013 were retrospectively included. Pneumococcal DNA loads in corresponding serum samples were determined by qPCR. Data on clinical diagnosis, course of disease and antibiotic treatment were extracted from medical records. For 53 IPD cases eligible stored serum samples were retrieved. The proportion of samples positive in qPCR was lower in uncomplicated pneumonia compared with other clinical syndromes (59.5 % vs. 100 %, p = 0.005). The pneumococcal DNA load was higher in cases other than uncomplicated pneumonia (p = 0.043) as well as in more severe disease (p-values 0.018, 0.029 and 0.003 for PSI Risk Class IV/V, ICU admission and mortality, respectively). Both detection of pneumococcal DNA and distribution of load did not significantly change over the first days of hospitalization despite treatment with appropriate antibiotics. Detection of pneumococcal DNA in serum was more sensitive in clinical syndromes other than uncomplicated pneumonia. Furthermore, the pneumococcal DNA load was associated with the type of IPD and severity of disease. Since the serum pneumococcal DNA load seemed unaffected by antibiotic treatment during the first days of IPD, it may offer an alternative for culture methods after prior antibiotic use.
Insights
Detecting pneumococcal DNA in blood offers a rapid alternative to blood cultures for invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). Serum DNA load is higher in severe IPD and unaffected by early antibiotic treatment, suggesting its diagnostic potential.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Molecular Diagnostics
Background:
- Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) diagnosis relies on blood cultures, which can be slow.
- Pneumococcal DNA detection in blood offers a potentially faster diagnostic alternative.
- The utility of serum pneumococcal DNA load across different clinical syndromes and after antibiotic initiation requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the diagnostic value of serum pneumococcal DNA load in adults with bacteremic IPD across various clinical syndromes.
- To assess the impact of antibiotic treatment on serum pneumococcal DNA load.
- To evaluate pneumococcal DNA load as a potential biomarker for IPD severity.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 53 adult patients with blood culture-proven IPD.
- Quantification of pneumococcal DNA loads in serum samples using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).
- Extraction of clinical data, including diagnosis, disease course, and antibiotic treatment, from medical records.
Main Results:
- Pneumococcal DNA detection was less sensitive in uncomplicated pneumonia (59.5%) compared to other syndromes (100%).
- Higher pneumococcal DNA loads were observed in non-uncomplicated pneumonia and more severe disease (higher PSI Risk Class, ICU admission, mortality).
- DNA detection and load remained stable in the initial days of hospitalization despite antibiotic treatment.
Conclusions:
- Serum pneumococcal DNA detection is more sensitive in IPD clinical syndromes beyond uncomplicated pneumonia.
- Pneumococcal DNA load correlates with IPD type and disease severity.
- Serum pneumococcal DNA load may serve as a valuable diagnostic tool, even after antibiotic administration, offering an alternative to traditional culture methods.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:30Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment
01:14Atypical Pneumonia
01:26Pulmonary Tuberculosis IV
Several diagnostic approaches are used to detect TB. The conventional method is the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST), also known as the Mantoux test. However, this method has...