Comparison of a rapid antigen test and cultures for diagnosis of meningitis in children

: Fourteen pediatric patients diagnosed as bacterial meningitis between August 1997 and April 2002 were enrolled in this study. Both rapid antigen detection test, Slidex Meningite 5 Kit (Biomerieux) and culture were performed using cerebrospinal fluids (CSF). H. influenzae was isolated from 11 samples and was the most frequently isolated bacteria, followed by S. pneumoniae from 4 samples and enteric bacteriae from 2 samples. Five out of six samples with positive result by culture were also positive by the rapid antigen test. Gram-negative rod was identified in smear specimens of CSF from all these 5 samples. Significance of the rapid antigen test should be recognized under drug resistance of those bacteriae are increasing.