Identification of Cardiobacterium hominis by broad-range bacterial polymerase chain reaction analysis in a case of culture-negative endocarditis

Arch Intern Med. 2002 Feb 25;162(4):477-9. doi: 10.1001/archinte.162.4.477.

Abstract

Culture-negative bacterial endocarditis may be attributed to fastidious microorganisms, prior institution of antibiotic treatment, or both. We describe a case of culture-negative endocarditis in which a modified Steiner stain revealed bacterial structures in the resected heart valve material. Prompted by this finding, broad-range polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of small-subunit ribosomal DNA (16S rDNA) was performed, and Cardiobacterium hominis sequences were detected. This case demonstrates the usefulness of both the Steiner stain and broad-range direct molecular amplification as supplemental diagnostic tools in identification of otherwise unexplained infections.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Coloring Agents
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / diagnosis*
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / microbiology
  • Gram-Negative Aerobic Bacteria / isolation & purification*
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / diagnosis*
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Paraffin Embedding
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*

Substances

  • Coloring Agents