title: [Acute bacterial meningitis with soluble antigen detected by latex particle agglutination tests at the Sourô-Sanou University Hospital of Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso)].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute bacterial meningitis constitutes a major public health problem in Burkina Faso, in part because of its high lethality rate, estimated in 2004 at 17.5%. Failure to confirm suspected cases of meningitis results in overestimating reported cases and incorrectly treating false positives. The latex particle agglutination test is a diagnostic alternative that overcomes these limitations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Determine the bacteriological and therapeutic profile as well as the course of cases of acute meningitis confirmed by the latex agglutination test at Sourô-Sanou University Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective longitudinal study took place over a one-year period (2008 to 2009). Data were collected from clinical and laboratory records. The diagnosis of meningitis was confirmed by testing for specific soluble antigens in the spinal fluid. We used the Pastorex(™) Meningitis Kit for that purpose. The threshold of significance selected for our study was 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 457 samples of spinal fluid from patients with suspected acute bacterial meningitis were analyzed and the latex test was performed in 438 of these samples: 154 (35.2%) were positive. The average age of our cases confirmed by the latex test was 13.2 ± 4.2 years old. This test confirmed more cases than any other method of identification. The therapeutic strategy used from one to four treatment agents. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most virulent and the most lethal pathogen, with a 64.7% lethality rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The earliness of the consultation and the treatment of the bacterial meningitis seem to have a positive effect on the course of disease.
authors: CHU Sanou-Sourô, service de médecine interne, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. macco72@yahoo.fr
authors: S M
authors: SM
authors: Ouédraogo
authors: T M
authors: TM
authors: Yaméogo
authors: C G
authors: CG
authors: Kyelem
authors: G E A
authors: GE
authors: Poda
authors: N F
authors: NF
authors: Ouédraogo
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Millogo
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Ouédraogo
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Ouédraogo-Traoré
authors: Y J
authors: YJ
authors: Drabo
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D002050:Burkina Faso; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008863:Microspheres; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial
keywords: Burkina Faso; acute bacterial meningitis; soluble antigen