Rapid diagnosis of bacterial meningitis by counter-immunoelectrophoresis

Counterimmunoelectrophoresis is described as a rapid and specific method for the early detection of causative organisms in bacterial meningitis. This technique was applied to CFS samples from 213 patients in whom neonatal septicaemia and/or meningitis or bacterial meningitis was suspected. Out of 14 patients with meningitis all but one bacterial organism could be detected by CIE, long before results of routine microbiological cultures were available. CIE was especially helpful in children treated with antibiotics prior to admission. Despite some shortcomings of the method, CIE is a useful diagnostic tool for the early determination of the aetiology of bacterial meningitis.