ABSTRACT
One hundred and thirty five cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from children clinically diagnosed Pyogenic meningitis (in and around Ahmedabad) were subjected to physical, bacteriological, cytological and biochemical examinations. It was found that all CSF specimens were turbid, the culture positivity varied form 12.12 to 56%. The highest percentage was found in children of less than one year of age. The average percentage of culture positivity was 28.68%. The result of gram stain was more than that of cultural examination. Gram stain of CSF was specific, accurate and highly valuable in the diagnosis of pyogenic meningitis. Among gram positive organisms isolated, Staphylococcus aureus was highest (8.8%) followed by Diplococcus pneumoniae (3.7%), but Klebsiella was predominant (6.6%) among gram negative bacilli. Staph. aureus was 100% sensitive to erythromycin, gentamycin, kanamycin and ampicillin. The results of cytological and biochemical tests correlated (67.1%). There was increase in polymorphs and protein, sugar levels decreased.