Detection of antigens in urine and serum by Counterimmunoelectro-Phoresis and Latex Agglutination test to determine the etiology and prognosis of bacterial meningitis during childhood

THESIS

Detection of antigens in urine and serum by Counterimmunoelectro-Phoresis and Latex Agglutination test to determine the etiology and prognosis of bacterial meningitis during childhood (Abstract)^*. Thesis. Salvador, 1994

Cristiana Maria Pacheco Costa Nascimento^**

Bacterial meningitis are frequent during childhood; they threaten child's survival and best quality of living. It is very important to determine the etiology quickly in order to choose the right antibiotic as soon as possible.

In order to determine the value of counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) and latex agglutination test (LAT) in the diagnosis of meningitis etiology and prognosis, we followed up 97 children with bacterial meningitis from March to September 1990 in the city of São Paulo, by carrying out the tests on urine and serum to detect Neisseria meningitidis, Hemophilus influenzae type B, and Streptococcus pneumoniae antigens. The samples were collected during the first 48 hours after hospital admittance and on the eighth day of treatment. The results were compared with blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture or with CSF Gram stain smear.

The LAT had a better performance; however CIE diagnosed 12.5% of cases not diagnosed by LAT. The prognosis was worse when one of these tests was positive, but there was no relation between the second urine test and the complication rate; yet, the tests carried out on the eighth day samples diagnosed 14.3% of cases not diagnosed by the same tests carried out on the first 48 hour samples.

Key words:counterimmunoelectrophoresis, latex agglutination test, urine, serum, bacterial meningitis, childhood.

*

Avaliação da antigenemia e da antigenúria através de testes de contra-imunoeletroforese e de aglutinação do látex e seu emprego no diagnóstico etiológico e prognóstico das meningites bacterianas na infância (Resumo). Tese de Mestrado, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal da Bahia (Departamento de Assistência Materno-Infantil). Orientadores: Calil Kairalla Faihat e Ines Lessa.

**

Address: Rua Agnelo de Brito 187/307 - 40170-100 Salvador BA - Brasil.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  19 Jan 2011
• Date of issue
  Mar 1995