Detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae from culture-negative dried blood spots by real-time PCR in Nigerian children with acute febrile illness.

Using rt-PCR for Streptococcus pneumoniae on 1038 dried blood spots from children prospectively enrolled with acute febrile illness, including 79 healthy controls, we detected pneumococcal DNA in nine of 15 blood culture-positive specimens, one culture-negative specimen from a high-risk group, a culture-confirmed non-pneumococcal specimen and a healthy control. Six culture-positive isolates (40%) were negative. Sensitivity was 60%, specificity 99.7%, positive predictive value 75% and negative predictive value 99.4%. Rt-PCR of DBS has limited sensitivity in blood specimens from acute febrile illness in children.