Direct Detection of Bacterial Pathogens in Brain Abscesses by Polymerase Chain Reaction Amplification and Sequencing of Partial 16S Ribosomal Deoxyribonucleic Acid Fragments

Abstract

Bacterial 16S rDNA sequences provide reliable clues to the identification of unknown pathogens. PCR analysis of 16S rDNA and sequencing may identify pathogens to the species level directly from brain abscesses. This approach is rapid and is useful especially in the identification of slow-growing and fastidious organisms.