Bacterial antigen detection test in meningitis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of bacterial antigen detection test in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for a rapid etiological diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. METHODS: The study included 36 cases of bacterial meningitis and 14 controls. Latex particle agglutination test (LPA test) for detection of bacterial antigen was done in the CSF using slidex meningitis kit (Biomeriux, France). RESULTS: Using LPA test, an etiological diagnosis could be made in 83% cases of bacterial meningitis. In contrast, CSF Gram stain and culture showed 36% and 6% positivity, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of LPA test were 83% and 100%, respectively. The common etiological organisms were S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae type b and N. meningitidis A. S. pneumoniae was encountered in all age groups while H. influenzae type b was found only below one year of age. CONCLUSIONS: LPA test is a rapid and superior diagnostic tool as compared to CSF Gram stain and culture. The study recommends LPA test as an adjunct laboratory test for rapid etiological diagnosis of bacterial meningitis for prompt institution of proper antibiotics.

Reactivity of the CD D-1 latex test with Clostridium difficile and other bacteria.

The reactivity of a commercial latex test with thirty-three species of bacteria was tested. Toxigenic and nontoxigenic strains of Clostridium difficile gave a positive result in the CD D-1 latex test. Cross-reactions were also given by C. putrificum, C. sporogenes and proteolytic C. botulinum.

Detección de microorganismos patógenos por medio de coaglutinación y de técnicas convencionales en el líquido cefalorraquídeo de pacientes pediátricos

De acuerdo a los resultados obtenidos en la detección de microorganismos en 185 muestras de Líquido Cefalorraquídeo (LCR) provenientes de pacientes pediátricos empleando la tinción de Gram, la coaglutación con proteína A de Staphylococcus aureus y el cultivo para el diagnóstico bacteriológico, se demuestra la utilidad de la técnica de la coaglutinación para establecer un rápido diagnóstico etiológico de la meningoencefalitis bacteriana. Así mismo, se destaca su especificidad y sensibilidad para ciertos microorganismos, en relación con la tinción de Gram y el cultivo. Adicionalmente, se pone de manifiesto la utilidad de la combinación de los tres métodos para lograr un diagnóstico microbiológico más completo

Diagnóstico etiológico por Latex en LCR en la meningitis bacteriana / Etiologic diagnosis with latex in CSF on bacterial meningitis

Estudio prospectivo, comparativo y descriptivo donde se evalua la eficacia de la prueba de Latex en L.C.R., como un método diagnóstico etiológico rapido de meningoecefalitis bacteriana comparando los resultados con la tinción de Gram y el cultivo de L.C.R. en pacientes internados en el Centro de Pediatria Albina R.de Patiño.

Evaluation of a new latex agglutination kit for detection of human rotavirus in faecal specimens.

A commercial latex agglutination (LA) test was compared with ELISA and direct electron microscopy (EM) for detection of rotavirus antigen in 93 stool specimens obtained from as many children with acute gastroenteritis. Seventy one specimens (76.3%) were either positive or negative with all the three techniques, while 22 (23.7%) gave contradictory results. Only 1 sample was positive by LA test but not with ELISA or EM. The sensitivity of LA test and EM was 62.5 per cent (30 of 48) and 75 per cent (36 of 48); the corresponding specificity being 97.7 per cent (44 of 45) and 100 per cent (45 of 45) respectively. ELISA was more sensitive than the LA test and EM for detection of rotavirus antigen. LA test which is highly specific and a rapid method, may be useful in certain situations but its low sensitivity makes it unsuitable for use in routine clinical practice.