Comparison of conventional bacteriological methods with latex agglutination technique for the diagnosis of pyogenic meningitis in children

A total of 41 cases of pyogenic meningitis were studied to compare the Gram-staining method with latex agglutination technique by taking the culture as a "Gold standard test. Gram-staining was positive in 26 [63.41%], culture in 19 [46.34%] and latex agglutination in 27 [65.85%] cases. The commonest aetiological agent was Streptococcus pneumoniae, identified from 15 [36.5%] cases. In 3 [7.5%] cases, no aetiological agent was identified. Forty six percent of the patients had received antibiotic therapy before their admission. The comparison was done for sensitivity, specificity and efficiency of the tests. The sensitivity, specificity and efficiency of Gram-staining was 84.2, 54.5 and 68.2 percent, and latex agglutination was 100, 13.6, 36.6 percent, respectively

Pyogenic meningitis in children

I order to identify aetiological agents of pyogenic meningitis in children, admitted to the Department of Paediatrics, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, a prospective study from October 93 to March 94 in 1609 cases was carried out. Of these, 26 [1.6%] were diagnosed as pyogenic meningitis. The causative micro-organisms were identified by Gram smear or culture in 16 of 26 [61.5%] children. Those identified were Streptococcus pneumonia [5=31], Staphylococcus aureus [4=25%], Neisseria meningitides [2=12%], Escherichia coli [1=6%] and others [4=26%] In 10 of the 26 [38%] children, causative pathogens could not be identified, although the clinical rataon, signs and cerebrospinal fluid findings were compatible with the diagnosis of pyogenic meningitis. mr R2 percent of the patients had a history of antibiotic treatment prior to the admission in the hospital