Application of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Technique to Detect Streptococcus pneumoniae Using Autolysin Gene (LytA) as A Virulence Factor in Clinical Specimens Sputum

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique can be used to detect Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) in sputum specimens of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease (IPD) patients. This technique has shown promising results, especially in the detection of community-acquired pneumococcal (PncCAP) community-acquired pneumonia. This study aimed to evaluate the molecular examination method using PCR technique to detect S. pneumoniae isolates using the Autolysin (LytA) gene in the sputum of patients with lower respiratory tract infections and patients suspected of having IPD. The samples collected were 100 sputum samples from patients infected with lower respiratory tract at Wahidin Sudirohusodo General Hospital, Makassar. S. pneumoniae isolates were confirmed by the growth of colonies growing on Blood Agar Plate
\n(BAP) medium, gram staining, catalase test, Optochin-sensitivity test, and PCR test using the Autolysin (LytA)
\ngene. The presence of the Autolysin (LytA) gene can be detected by conventional PCR. A total of 100 samples
\nwere gram-positive diplococcus bacteria, of which 93% were positive for catalase tests, 9% were confirmed
\nusing the Optochin sensitivity test and 21% of the isolates were confirmed as S. pneumoniae using the PCR-gene LytA. The Autolysin gene (LytA) can be used to detect S. pneumoniae isolates as early identification in clinical sputum samples in hospitals.