Abstract: The present invention relates to DNA-based methods for universal bacterial detection, for specific detection of the common bacterial pathogens Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis as well as for specific detection of commonly encountered and clinically relevant bacterial antibiotic resistance genes directly from clinical specimens or, alternatively, from a bacterial colony. The above bacterial species can account for as much as 80% of bacterial pathogens isolated in routine microbiology laboratories.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for universal detection of bacteria in biological samples and for specific detection of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Haemophilus influenzae in urine or any other biological samples, said method comprising denaturation of bacterial DNA to single stranded form and either fixing it on a support or leaving it in solution, contacting said single stranded genetic material with a labeled probe selected from the group consisting of i) fragments of chromosomal DNA of the above-mentioned bacteria and ii) synthetic oligonucleotides whose sequences are derived either from the said fragments of chromosomal DNAs or from sequences available in data banks, all (i and ii) probes being capable to hybridize specifically to their chromosomal DNA or, in case of universal probes, to any bacterial chromosomal DNA.