Identification of occult Fusobacterium nucleatum central nervous system infection by use of PCR-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

J Clin Microbiol. 2014 Sep;52(9):3462-4. doi: 10.1128/JCM.01082-14. Epub 2014 Jun 25.

Abstract

Anaerobic bacteria are often difficult to detect, especially after the initiation of antibiotics. We describe the application of PCR-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (PCR/ESI-MS) using a sample of cerebrospinal fluid to identify an anaerobic Gram-negative bacillus, Fusobacterium nucleatum, in a patient with "culture-negative" meningitis and cerebral abscesses.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biopsy
  • Brain Abscess / complications
  • Brain Abscess / diagnosis*
  • Brain Abscess / drug therapy
  • Brain Abscess / microbiology
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid / microbiology
  • Fusobacterium Infections / diagnosis*
  • Fusobacterium Infections / drug therapy
  • Fusobacterium Infections / microbiology
  • Fusobacterium nucleatum / isolation & purification*
  • Head / diagnostic imaging
  • Histocytochemistry
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / complications
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / diagnosis*
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / drug therapy
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / microbiology
  • Microscopy
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction*
  • Radiography
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents