Bacterial meningitis diagnosis mostly involves non-specific and painful procedures. An alternative strategy has been proposed in this study utilizing Ply and Bex genes for Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae identification. Blood samples were collected from meningitis patients at Services hospital Children’s hospital, Lahore, with a subsequent sub-culturing and enrichment. DNA was isolated from bacteria and blood using a kit, and Polymerase Chain Reaction was performed with five primer sets. Six strains were isolated from Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) and oxidase test. PCR confirmed Ply and Lyt gene amplification for Streptococcus pneumoniae, while amplified Bex gene amplification suggested a potential combinatorial approach as early diagnostic biomarkers for bacterial meningitis. The study, conducted at KAM School of Life Sciences, Forman Christian College University, Lahore, from January to May 2019, enhances understanding of the reliability of diagnostic methods. The consistent presence of amplified Bex and Ply genes in bacterial meningitis patients underscores their utility for early disease diagnosis.

Index Terms- Bacterial meningitis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Hemophilus influenzae, Blood culture, Polymerase Chain Reaction