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Improving laboratory techniques to detect M. tuberculosis complex and C. neoformans as the causative agents of chronic meningitis in cerebrospinal fluid of adult patients.

Thesis (MScMedSc (Pathology. Medical Microbiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.

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Main Author: Prince, Yvonne
Other Authors: Wasserman, Elizabeth
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch 2010
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access_status_str Open Access
author Prince, Yvonne
author2 Wasserman, Elizabeth
author_browse Prince, Yvonne
Wasserman, Elizabeth
author_facet Wasserman, Elizabeth
Prince, Yvonne
author_sort Prince, Yvonne
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv University of Stellenbosch
description Thesis (MScMedSc (Pathology. Medical Microbiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/4110
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:46:27.621Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2010
publishDateRange 2010
publishDateSort 2010
publisher Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
publisherStr Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
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source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/4110 Improving laboratory techniques to detect M. tuberculosis complex and C. neoformans as the causative agents of chronic meningitis in cerebrospinal fluid of adult patients. Prince, Yvonne Wasserman, Elizabeth Warren, Rob University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Health Sciences. Dept. of Pathology. Medical Microbiology. Chronic meningitis Laboratory techniques Dissertations -- Medicine Theses -- Medicine Cerebrospinal fluid -- Examination Cryptococcus neoformans -- Examination Meningitis Mycobacterium tuberculosis -- Examination Pathology Medical Microbiology Thesis (MScMedSc (Pathology. Medical Microbiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and Cryptococcus neoformans are the most common causes of chronic meningitis in South Africa. Conventional microbiology has limited utility in diagnosing these pathogens due to the paucibacillary nature of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the diagnostic delay associated with culturing methods. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of an in-house polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for the detection of the etiological agent of chronic meningitis. METHODS CSF samples (where volume exceeded 5ml) were submitted to the Medical Microbiology diagnostic laboratory of the Tygerberg Hospital from patients with suspected tuberculosis meningitis (TBM). Following routine bacteriology, the sample was used to inoculate two mycobacterial growth indicator tubes (MGIT A and B) and subsequently incubated in the BACTEC 960 automated system. MGIT A followed standard operating procedures and the time to culture positivity was noted. Weekly aliquots (up to 6 weeks) were removed from MGIT B. These samples were boiled to inactivate the bacteria and then the DNA was extracted using the Promega Wizard SV Genomic DNA kit. The DNA was then speciated by PCR and high-resolution melting analysis (HRM) by using primers specific to either the RD9 region of MTB complex or primers specific to the partial internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1), 5.8S rRNA gene and partial ITS2 sequence of C. neoformans. RESULTS Routine CSF microscopy indicated that 14 of the 78 patients (17.9%) had typical CSF findings of TBM (lymphocytes predominant, increased protein levels and decreased glucose levels). IV Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) stains were positive for 12 (15.4%) samples, and MTB was cultured from 19 samples (24.4%). Our optimized PCR and HRM method was able to detect M. tuberculosis in 17 of the 19 culture positive specimens with a sensitivity of 89.5% and a specificity of 62.7%. The sensitivity of this method was higher than that of direct microscopy. In all of the PCR positive samples, the time to detection, compared to culture, could be shortened by 1 to 2 weeks. Only one sample was positive for Cryptococcus culture and another sample was positive with a Cryptococcus latex test. PCR for Cryptococcus was positive in 2 cases (n=78), sensitivities and specificities could not be reported due to the low number of positive cases. CONCLUSION We demonstrated that a short culture period and the use of commercial DNA extraction kit on CSF samples increases the sensitivity of molecular tests to diagnose tuberculosis. Furthermore, the molecular techniques could significantly reduce the time to positivity of results, when compared to culture. Due to the low occurrence of Cryptococcus in the samples included in our study, we could not comment on the diagnostic utility of PCR in the diagnosis of Cryptococcal meningitis, when compared to the conventional methods. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: INLEIDING Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) en Cryptococcus neoformans is die mees algemeenste oorsake van kroniese meningitis in Suid-Afrika. Routine mikroskopie dra beperkte waarde in die diagnose van hierdie patogene as gevolg van die klein hoeveelhede organismes wat in die SSV (serobrospinale vog) voorkom en die lang tyd wat dit benodig om hierdie organisms te kweek. Hierdie studie beoog om die diagnostiese waarde van ‘n polymerase ketting reaksie (PKR) metode wat intern ontwerp is te evalueer vir die identifikasie van patogene verantwoordelik vir kroniese meningitis. METODES SSV monsters (waarvan die volume 5ml oorskry) en waar daar ‘n kliniese vermoede van tuberkulose meningitis (TBM) was, is na die diagnostiese Mediese Mikrobiologie laboratorium van Tygerberg hospitaal gestuur vir roetine bakteriologiese ontleding. Die oorblywende monsters is gebruik om twee mikobakteriële groei-indikasiebuise (MGIT A en B) te innokuleer en hulle is geïnkubeer in ‘n BACTEC 960 geautomatiseerde sisteem. MGIT A is volgens roetine diagnostiese metodes geanaliseer en die tyd tot ‘n positiewe resultaat is aangeteken Weeklikse monsters (tot en met week 6) is uit MGIT B verwyder en die monsters is gekook om sodoende die bakterië te inaktiveer. Die Promega Wizard SV Genomiese DNS ekstraksiemetode is gebruik om die DNS te versuiwer. Spesiëring van die DNS is deur middel van ‘n intern ontwerpte PKR en hoëresolusiesmeltingsmetode (HRS) gedoen met inleiers wat spesifiek is tot die RD9 gedeelte van die MTB kompleks en inleiers spesifiek tot die gedeeltelike interne getranskribeerde spasieerder 1 (ITS1), 5.8S rRNS geen en die gedeeltelike ITS2 DNS volgorde van C. neoformans. VI RESULTATE Roetine SSV mikroskopie het aangedui dat 14 uit 78 (17.9%) pasiënte tipiese SSV bevindings van TBM (oorwegend limfosiete, verhoogde proteïene en verlaagde glukose) gehad het. Ziehl- Neelsen (ZN) kleurings was positief vir 12 (15.4%) monsters, en MTB is gekweek in 19 (24.4%) van hierdie monsters. Ons geoptimaliseerde PKR en HRS metode het daarin geslaag om M. tuberculosis in 17 van die 19 kultuurpositiewe monsters aan te toon met ‘n sensitiviteit van 89.5% en ‘n spesifisitiet van 62.7%. Die sensitiwiteit van die direkte PKR was hoër in vergelyking met mikroskopie. In al die PKR positiewe monsters was die tyd tot aantoning, in vergelyking met kultuur, verkort met 1 tot 2 weke. Slegs een monster het C. neoformans gekweek en ‘n ander monster was positief met die kriptokokkale latekstoets. PKR vir C. neoformans was positief in 2 gevalle (n=78). Die sensitiwiteit en spesifisiteit van die C. neoformans PKR kon nie bepaal word nie weens te min gevalle. GEVOLGTREKKINGS Ons het aangetoon dat ‘n verkorte inkubasieperiode en die gebruik van ‘n kommersiële DNS ekstraksiemetode op SSV monsters die sensitiwiteit van die molekulêre tegniek vir die diagnose van tuberkulose verhoog en dat hierdie metode die tyd na positiwiteit aansienlik verkort in vergelyking met kultuur. Weens die lae getalle van kriptokokkale meningitis in ons studie kon ons nie kommentaar lewer op die akkuraatheid van PKR in die diagnose van kriptokokkale meningitis, in vergelyking met meer konvensionele metodes, nie. 2010-02-24T07:20:32Z 2010-08-13T14:59:10Z 2010-02-24T07:20:32Z 2010-08-13T14:59:10Z 2010-03 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/4110 en University of Stellenbosch xviii, 91 p. : ill. application/pdf Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
spellingShingle Chronic meningitis
Laboratory techniques
Dissertations -- Medicine
Theses -- Medicine
Cerebrospinal fluid -- Examination
Cryptococcus neoformans -- Examination
Meningitis
Mycobacterium tuberculosis -- Examination
Pathology
Medical Microbiology
Prince, Yvonne
Improving laboratory techniques to detect M. tuberculosis complex and C. neoformans as the causative agents of chronic meningitis in cerebrospinal fluid of adult patients.
title Improving laboratory techniques to detect M. tuberculosis complex and C. neoformans as the causative agents of chronic meningitis in cerebrospinal fluid of adult patients.
title_full Improving laboratory techniques to detect M. tuberculosis complex and C. neoformans as the causative agents of chronic meningitis in cerebrospinal fluid of adult patients.
title_fullStr Improving laboratory techniques to detect M. tuberculosis complex and C. neoformans as the causative agents of chronic meningitis in cerebrospinal fluid of adult patients.
title_full_unstemmed Improving laboratory techniques to detect M. tuberculosis complex and C. neoformans as the causative agents of chronic meningitis in cerebrospinal fluid of adult patients.
title_short Improving laboratory techniques to detect M. tuberculosis complex and C. neoformans as the causative agents of chronic meningitis in cerebrospinal fluid of adult patients.
title_sort improving laboratory techniques to detect m tuberculosis complex and c neoformans as the causative agents of chronic meningitis in cerebrospinal fluid of adult patients
topic Chronic meningitis
Laboratory techniques
Dissertations -- Medicine
Theses -- Medicine
Cerebrospinal fluid -- Examination
Cryptococcus neoformans -- Examination
Meningitis
Mycobacterium tuberculosis -- Examination
Pathology
Medical Microbiology
url http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/4110
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