A Simple Kit System for Rapid Diagnosis of Cerebrospinal Meningitis in Developing Areas.

摘要

Acute infectious diseases often occur in areas where conventional diagnostic laboratory services do not exist. Nevertheless, early and specific etiologic diagnosis is often the key to successful therapy and control of serious infections. A simplified laboratory kit was developed through laboratory and field studies for the rapid diagnosis of cerebrospinal meningitis. This study was designed to assess the effectiveness of this kit, employing coagglutination tests, when operated by rural medical attendants. Field studies conducted in West Africa revealed that medical attendants could, with a minimum of technical familiarization, rapidly and accurately diagnose bacterial meningitis cases. This kit, employing inert particle aggregation tests (coagglutination or latex agglutination) appears to be appropriate technology that can effectively support primary health care delivery in developing countries. (Author)