title: Diagnostic accuracy of cerebrospinal fluid gram stain in children with suspected bacterial meningitis.
abstract: This cross-sectional study included 1938 children undergoing lumbar puncture; 21 (1.1%) cases were classified as definite (n = 17) or probable (n = 4) bacterial meningitis. Gram stain sensitivity was 94.1% (95% confidence interval, 71.3%-99.9%) for those with definite meningitis; the positive predictive value was 47.1% (95% confidence interval, 29.8%-64.9%). The sensitivity was 95.2% for those with definite or probable meningitis. Antibiotic pretreatment did not affect results.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brizzi
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Hines
authors.forename: Karin L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: McGowan
authors.forename: Samir S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005840:Gentian Violet; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010619:Phenazines; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013129:Spinal Puncture; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: C035863:Gram's stain; D010619:Phenazines; D005840:Gentian Violet