[Determination of bacterial antigens by latex agglutination tests in cultured cerebrospinal fluid specimens from bacterial meningitis].

Between December 1988 and February 1991, the latex agglutination test was evaluated for its ability to detect the antigens of N. meningitidis, S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae in the samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 57 patients with bacterial meningitis. Totally antigens were detected in 34 of 42 (80.9%) patients with bacterial meningitis proven by culture. Latex agglutination was positive in 60% of CSFs for N. meningitidis, 88.2% of CSFs for S. pneumoniae and 100% of CSFs for H. influenzae. Antigens were detected in 7 of 9 (77.8%) patients with no bacterial organisms grown on CSF culture but seen on microscopy after Gram staining. No antigens were identified in CSFs of 4 patients with culture and gram stain negative. 32-48 hours after the treatment started, the CSF samples were obtained again from 11 patients and antigens were detected in 9 of them.