Comparison between Gram?s stain, culture, Real – time PCR for diagnosis of Neisseria meningitidis in CSF Cases

Objective : to compare characteristics of the gram stain , culture, Real-time PCR to detection pathogenic bacteria in CSF samples of patients were suspected of acute bacterial meningitis. Methods: 100 CSF sample were suspected of acute bacterial meningitidis Gram stain , bacterial culture, Real-time PCR based on SYBR Green I fluorescent dye for detection of Nisseria meningitidis in all samples. Results: Gram stain and bacteria culture for all samples were positive in 5 case (5%) including two bacterial genus Listeria monocytogenes in four case (80%) and Staphylococcus aureus in one case (20%) while in RT-PCR based on SYBR Green for detection of SodC gene which is specific gene to diagnosis of N. meningitidis were positive in 42 case (42%) . Conclusion: RT-PCR method is rapid , sensitive and specific diagnostic test for acute meningitis . RT- PCR test was positive in 42 case (42%) and all these case was N. meningitidis