Aspectos dos líquidos cefalorraquidianos nas meningites bacterianas / The cerebrospinal fluid in bacterial meningitis

ABSTRACT

Samples of 1815 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were studied in a meningitis outbreak during 1989 in S ao Paulo, Brazil. Neisseria meningitis 56 per cent with 44 per cent type B, Haemophilus influenzae 17 per cent , from which 72 per cent in children (days to 3-year-old) and Streptococcus pneumoniae 14 per cent from which 60 per cent in children (day to 1-year-old) of 443 (24 per cent ) of all strains. Cytochemistry study showed purulent or turbidity aspects in 70 to 79 per cent positive bacterioscopy or culture of CSF; white cells count > 500/mm3; glucose < 45 mg/dl; protein > 90 mg/dl in 90 per cent of all patients. We concluded that CSF prognostic factors (aspect and cytochemistry) were correlated with bacterial meningitis. Bacterioscopy and positive cultures were correlated to NM, SP and HI isolation from these patients (Goodman Test)