Direct detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae in positive blood cultures by real-time polymerase chain reaction

We developed a real-time polymerase chain reaction specific for Streptococcus pneumoniae to be applied directly from blood culture bottles without previous DNA extraction step. For the 128 blood culture bottles tested, the assay had 94% and 98.4% sensitivity and specificity, respectively. This assay provides rapid and accurate identification of this pathogen. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.