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Identification of etiological agents by LPA and PCR in childhood meningitis

Mashal Khan1, Khalid Mahmood A Khan2, Khatidja Pardhan3

  • 1Mashal Khan, MBBS, DCH, MCPS, FCPS, Assistant Professor, Medical Unit, National Institute of Child Health (NICH), Karachi, Pakistan.

Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences
|December 20, 2013
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Latex Particle Agglutination (LPA) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) identified etiological agents in bacterial meningitis cases with negative Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) cultures. PCR demonstrated superior diagnostic yield compared to LPA for rapid bacterial meningitis diagnosis.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatric Neurology

Background:

  • Bacterial meningitis often presents with negative Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) cultures, complicating etiological diagnosis.
  • Accurate identification of causative agents is crucial for timely and appropriate antibiotic therapy in pediatric meningitis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of Latex Particle Agglutination (LPA) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in identifying etiological agents of bacterial meningitis in CSF culture-negative patients.
  • To compare the diagnostic performance of LPA and PCR in this patient cohort.

Main Methods:

  • A descriptive case series involving 166 pediatric patients (1-59 months) with suspected meningitis and negative CSF cultures.
  • CSF samples were analyzed using both Latex Particle Agglutination (LPA) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for bacterial identification.
  • Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 17.

Main Results:

  • Latex Particle Agglutination (LPA) identified etiological agents in 15.66% (26/166) of cases, with *Streptococcus pneumoniae* (15) and *Haemophilus influenzae* type b (10) being most common.
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) detected causative agents in 39.15% (65/166) of cases, identifying *Streptococcus pneumoniae* (48) and *Haemophilus influenzae* type b (16).
  • PCR showed a significantly higher detection rate for bacterial meningitis pathogens compared to LPA.

Conclusions:

  • Latex Particle Agglutination (LPA) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) are valuable tools for the rapid etiological diagnosis of bacterial meningitis, especially when CSF cultures are negative.
  • PCR offers a superior diagnostic yield over LPA for identifying bacterial pathogens in meningitis cases.
  • These rapid diagnostic methods facilitate early and targeted antibiotic administration, improving patient outcomes.
Keywords:
Etiological AgentsMeningitis

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