Rapid PCR-Based Detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae DNA in Cerebrospinal Fluid

The reports by Cherin et al. (2) and Garcia et al. (3) document the potential advantages of PCR-based assays for the detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae DNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and lung tissue, particularly when culture is compromised by antibiotic therapy. In both instances the (different) PCR-enzyme immunoassays (PCR-EIAs) showed excellent sensitivity, detecting approximately 3 CFU and 2 to 27 CFU, respectively.