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Updated: Sep 16, 2025

Identification of Rare Bacterial Pathogens by 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS
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Molecular Identification of Meningitis/Septicemia Due to Streptococcus spp. in Greece (2015-2024)

Constantinos Karamalis1, Athanasia Xirogianni1, Stelmos Simantirakis1

  • 1National Meningitis Reference Laboratory, Department of Public Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, 1152 Athens, Greece.

Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 12, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Molecular diagnostics identified Streptococcus species causing meningitis in Greece. The study found the mitis and pyogenic groups were most frequent, with higher prevalence in children and older adults.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Molecular Diagnostics

Background:

  • Meningitis caused by Streptococcus species is a severe central nervous system infection.
  • Accurate identification of Streptococcus species is crucial for effective clinical management.
  • Limited data exists on the specific Streptococcus species causing meningitis in Greece.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify Streptococcus species causing meningitis in Greece over a nine-year period.
  • To utilize molecular diagnostic techniques for precise species identification.
  • To analyze epidemiological trends and age-related susceptibility.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 189 clinical samples from patients with meningitis and/or septicemia (2015-2024).
  • Application of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays.
  • Utilized tuf gene sequencing for further species identification.

Main Results:

  • Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus) and Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus) each accounted for 18.52% of identified cases.
  • Non-typable Streptococcus species comprised 62.96% of samples.
  • The mitis group (42.86%) and pyogenic group (20.17%) were the most frequent Streptococcus species identified via sequencing.
  • Higher prevalence observed in children (0-14 years) and adults over 50 years old.

Conclusions:

  • Molecular diagnostics are effective in identifying a broad range of Streptococcus species causing meningitis.
  • The study provides insights into the epidemiology of Streptococcus meningitis in Greece.
  • Identified age-related susceptibility patterns warrant further investigation, including the role of Lactococcus species.
Keywords:
GreecePCRStreptococcus spp.epidemiologymolecular identificationsequencingstreptococcal meningitis

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