A multiplex polymerase chain reaction method for rapid pneumococcal serotype determination in childhood empyema

Nonvaccine serotypes are increasingly responsible for pneumococcal empyema. We developed a one-step polymerase chain reaction for identifying all serotypes covered by the 13-valent conjugate vaccine. Over 1 year, we identified serotypes 19A (n = 6), 1 (n = 2), 3 (n = 1) and 7F/A (n = 2), both in culture-positive and culture-negative pleural fluid from 11 children with empyema.