Detection of Klebsiella Pneumoiae in Sputum Specimens by Real- time Polymerase Chain Reaction Technique

Abstract

This study was carried out in the period from May 2007 - March 2008 to detect the presence of Klebsiella pneumoniae in patients suffering from pneumonia. Forty seven sputum samples were collected from patients attended Albangadid Hospital, Alshab Hospital, and National Health Laboratory. Bacterial DNA was extracted from each sputum specimen using Phenol Chloroform method. Real-time PCR technique was adopted to detect the presence of Klebsiella pneumoniae using Real Time PCR. The result revealed that only three (6.3%) specimens were positive. The study concluded that the gene probe technique facilitates detection of bacterial pathogens without bacteriological culture.