RESEARCH ARTICLE


Infective Arthritis: Bacterial 23S rRNA Gene Sequencing as a Supplementary Diagnostic Method



Claus Moser1, 2, Keld Andresen1, Anne Kjerulf1, 3, Suheil Salamon1, 4, Michael Kemp1, Jens Jørgen Christensen1, *
1 Department of Bacteriology, Mycology, and Parasitology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, and the Departments of Clinical Microbiology
2 Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshos
3 Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev
4 Vejle Sygehus, Denmark


Article Metrics

CrossRef Citations:
5
Total Statistics:

Full-Text HTML Views: 3026
Abstract HTML Views: 2828
PDF Downloads: 742
Total Views/Downloads: 6596
Unique Statistics:

Full-Text HTML Views: 1584
Abstract HTML Views: 1642
PDF Downloads: 499
Total Views/Downloads: 3725



Creative Commons License
© Moser et al.; Licensee Bentham Open

open-access license: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/), which permits unrestrictive use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

* Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Bacteriology, Mycology and Parasitology, Statens Serum Institut, 2300-Copenhagen, Denmark; Tel: +4532683572; E-mail: jjc@ssi.dk


Abstract

Consecutively collected synovial fluids were examined for presence of bacterial DNA (a 700-bp fragment of the bacterial 23S rRNA gene) followed by DNA sequencing of amplicons, and by conventional bacteriological methods. One or more microorganisms were identified in 22 of the 227 synovial fluids (9,7%) originating from 17 patients. Sixteen of the patients had clinical signs of arthritis. For 11 patients molecular and conventional bacterial examinations were in agreement. Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis and Streptococcus pneumoniae, were detected in synovial fluids from 6, 2 and 2 patients, respectively. In 3 patients only 23S rRNA analysis was positive; 2 synovial fluids contained S. dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis and 1 S. pneumoniae). The present study indicates a significant contribution by PCR with subsequent DNA sequencing of the 23S rRNA gene analysis in recognizing and identification of microorganisms from synovial fluids.

Key Words: Synovial fluid, 23S rRNA, PCR, bacteria, infective arthritis.