Detection of bacterial DNA in cardiac vegetations by PCR after the completion of antimicrobial treatment for endocarditis

• Published in: Clinical microbiology and infection Vol. 10; no. 6; pp. 579 - 581
• Main Authors: Lang, S., Watkin, R.W., Lambert, P.A., Littler, W.A., Elliott, T.S.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Elsevier Ltd 01-06-2004; Blackwell Science Ltd; Blackwell
• Subjects: 16S rRNA; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiac vegetations; detection; DNA, Bacterial - analysis; endocarditis; Endocarditis, Bacterial - drug therapy; Endocarditis, Bacterial - microbiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heart Valve Diseases - drug therapy; Heart Valve Diseases - microbiology; Heart Valves - microbiology; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Middle Aged; PCR; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Staphylococcus - genetics; Staphylococcus - isolation & purification; Streptococcus - genetics; Streptococcus - isolation & purification; 16S rRNA; detection; endocarditis; Cardiac vegetations; PCR; Heart; Microbiology; Cardiovascular disease; Antimicrobial agent; Infection; Polymerase chain reaction; Treatment; Ribosomal RNA; Heart disease; DNA; Endocardial disease; Endocarditis; Bacteriosis; Molecular biology
• ISSN: 1198-743X; 1469-0691
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1198-743X.2004.00821.x

PCR with broad-range primers for prokaryotic 16S rRNA genes was used to identify bacterial DNA in tissue from patients undergoing valve replacements following a previous episode of infective endocarditis (IE). Of eight valves investigated, bacterial DNA was detected in three from patients for whom IE had been treated by antibiotic therapy 5, 12 and 18 months previously. The demonstration of bacterial DNA within resected heart valves suggests either recurrence of infection, treatment failure or the persistence of bacterial debris within the cardiac vegetation. There may also be implications for routine use of PCR in the diagnosis of infection.