Rapid diagnosis of bacteric meningitis

Gram stain and bacterial antigen detection are economic and rapid tests for the identification of the bacteria in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for the diagnosis of meningitis. Even if culture is the gold standard of these diagnosis, it requires long time (growth time). The purpose of our study was to compare in the laboratory diagnosis of meningitis real time PCR (Eurospital, Italy). with standard methods. Samples were collected in patients referred to L. Sacco Universital Hospital (range of age: 16 to 70 years) from September 2008 to July 2009. 9 out of 130 CFS samples investigated were positive in PCR but they produced different results to the other methods used.