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

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