• Sedef Zeliha Oner, Ilknur Kaleli, Melek Demir, Ergun Mete, and Ahmet Caliskan.
• Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.
• J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2022 Dec 1; 32 (12): 160516081605-1608.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the bacterial and viral causes of central nervous system (CNS) infection by multiplex PCR.Study DesignDescriptive study.Place And Duration Of StudyDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine, Turkey, from March 2016 to December 2021.MethodologyCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of patients prediagnosed with CNS infection were included in the study. Viral pathogens were detected with the Multiplex real-time PCR panel (FTD Neuro9, Fast Track Diagnostics, Luxembourg) and bacterial pathogens with the multiplex real-time PCR panel (FTD Bacterial Meningitis, Fast Track Diagnostics, Luxembourg). The identification of bacteria growing in samples was done by conventional methods and with the Phoenix™ (Becton Dickinson Diagnostics, USA) automated system.ResultsCSF samples of 440 patients were evaluated using multiplex PCR panel. The viral factors included adenovirus (14.2%), human herpes virus 7 (1.5%), varicella zoster virus (1.3%), herpes simplex virus 1 (1.3%), cytomegalovirus (1.3%), Epstein-Barr virus (0.8%), human herpes virus (0.8%), herpes simplex virus 2 (0.3%), varicella zoster virus (0.3%), and parvovirus B19 (0.3%); and bacterial factors included Streptococcus pneumoniae (7.0%) and Neisseria meningitidis (0.9%). The bacterial growth was detected in the CSF culture was 4.9%. Among the growing bacteria, there were six different types that were not found on the multiplex PCR panel.ConclusionThe use of a comprehensive bacterial multiplex PCR panel containing common pathogens will be more effective in pathogen detection. Care should be taken, especially when interpreting the viral Multiplex PCR.Key WordsViral multiplex PCR, Bacterial multiplex PCR, Bacteria culture.

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