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Latex agglutination test: an adjunct to the laboratory diagnosis of pyogenic bacterial meningitis
B R Mirdha1, U Gupta, R A Bhujwala
1Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
Abstract:
Gram stain, culture and latex agglutination test (LAT) of cerebrospinal fluid were performed in 50 patients clinically diagnosed as suffering from pyogenic bacterial meningitis. Using all the three techniques, an aetiological diagnosis was made in 27 (54%). Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae and H. influenzae were the infecting organisms in 21 cases (44%). There were 12 additional cases in which LAT was the only clue to the diagnosis as compared to conventional techniques. Propionibacterium acnes was isolated from one case of anaerobic meningitis. It is concluded that LAT is an adjunct to conventional techniques in the diagnosis of pyogenic bacterial meningitis, where the latter tests fail.
Insights
Latex agglutination test (LAT) aids in diagnosing pyogenic bacterial meningitis when conventional methods fail. This method improved etiological diagnosis in over half of the patients studied.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Pyogenic bacterial meningitis is a critical condition requiring rapid and accurate diagnosis.
- Conventional diagnostic methods for bacterial meningitis include Gram stain, culture, and latex agglutination test (LAT) of cerebrospinal fluid.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic utility of LAT in conjunction with conventional techniques for pyogenic bacterial meningitis.
- To determine the etiological agents responsible for bacterial meningitis in the studied cohort.
Main Methods:
- Cerebrospinal fluid samples from 50 patients with clinically diagnosed pyogenic bacterial meningitis were analyzed.
- Tests performed included Gram stain, bacterial culture, and latex agglutination test (LAT).
Main Results:
- An etiological diagnosis was achieved in 54% of cases using all three techniques combined.
- Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and H. influenzae were identified as the causative agents in 44% of cases.
- LAT provided crucial diagnostic information in 12 additional cases where conventional methods were inconclusive.
Conclusions:
- Latex agglutination test (LAT) serves as a valuable adjunct to conventional methods in diagnosing pyogenic bacterial meningitis.
- LAT is particularly useful in cases where Gram stain and culture yield negative or inconclusive results.