Sensibilidad de la tinción de gram en líquido cefalorraquídeo para el diagnóstico de meningitis bacteriana, ecuador.2020

Abstract

Bacterial meningitis is a pathology of which cases have been reported around the world, affecting the nervous system causing inflammation of the meninges mainly. It has a high mortality even reaching figures such as 70% of fatal cases. The main bacteria that cause bacterial meningitis are: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli. Therefore, the use of rapid and sensitive diagnostic techniques such as Gram staining is vital. The purpose of this research is to analyze the sensitivity of Gram staining in cerebrospinal fluid samples in patients aged 15 to 92 years through a literature search for the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. A descriptive study was carried out in which 201 samples of patients diagnosed with suspected bacterial meningitis were analyzed and were not subjected to antibiotic therapy. The sensitivity of Gram staining was calculated as a diagnostic test by comparing the data obtained in microbiological cultures which were considered as gold standard. The sensitivity obtained was 94,4%. This indicates that Gram staining is a test that should be used as the first line for the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis.