Streptococcus pneumoniae detection by polymerase chain reaction aiding diagnosis in hemolytic uremic syndrome

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Paize, Fauzia | Pipon, Madeleine | Judd, Brian | Jones, Caroline A.

Affiliations: The Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK

Note: [] Correspondence: Dr. Fauzia Paize, Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital, Liverpool, L12 2AP, UK. Tel.: +44 151 252 5221; Fax: +44 151 252 5928; E-mail: fauziapaize@msn.com

Abstract: Hemolytic uremic syndrome induced by Streptococcus pneumoniae is the second most common cause of hemolytic uremic syndrome. This case report details a child who was diagnosed with pneumococcal induced hemolytic uremic syndrome on a polymerase chain reaction sample only. No pathogens were isolated from any other medium. The isolation of S. pneumoniae made a significant impact on the clinical management of the child. This report emphasizes the importance of polymerase chain reaction as a molecular biological technique for the detection of streptococcal infection.

Keywords: Hemolytic uremic syndrome, Streptococcus pneumoniae

Journal: Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 231-233, 2006