Modification of Laboratory Results by Partial Treatment of Bacterial Meningitis

Abstract

A total of 310 cases of bacterial meningitis were divided into 2 groups on the basis of having received or not having received antimicrobial drugs before hospital admission. The laboratory findings of the 2 groups were compared for spinal fluid protein, glucose, and cell count values in order to show the effect of pre-treatment on these laboratory results. In addition, the effect of pre-treatment on the recovery of the etiologic agent and the ability to demonstrate the bacteria by Gram stain was discussed. Pretreatment had little effect on the laboratory diagnosis of meningitis, and that in approximately 1/3 of the treated cases the specific bacterial agent could not be isolated.