[Viridans streptococci isolated from cerebrospinal fluid. Clinical significance of 9 cases].
Viridans streptococci (VS) are often isolated from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). However, the significance of such isolates is poorly understood. In the present study we carry out a retrospective analysis of 9 patients in whom VS were isolated from CSF during a 1-year period at La Paz Hospital. Two patients (22.2%) had meningitis diagnosed through clinical, laboratory and bacteriologic findings. Both patients had predisposition diseases (previous difficult spinal tap, ventriculo-peritoneal shunt). The other isolations were considered as contaminants. Three patients (33.3%) with no VS meningitis had other different serious disease (sepsis without bacteriologic confirmation). VS are isolated with relative frequency from CSF, although they cause meningitis in less than one-quarter of the cases (those who have a predisposition disease). In the other cases, VS are isolated as contaminants of CSF and other disease should be search as cause of patient symptoms.
Alba
D
D
Departamentos de Medicina Interna, Hospital La Paz, Madrid.
Guerra
A
A
Peña
P
P
Molina
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification*