Article Figures & Data
Tables
- TABLE 1.
Comparison of BAT and Gram stain resultsa
Gram stain result No. (%) of specimens BAT positive BAT negative Positive 26 (62) 11 (26) Negative 3 (7)a 2 (5) ↵ a Forty-two specimens were tested. The results of the BAT and the Gram stain were not statistically significantly different from one another (P = 0.64, Fisher's exact test). All three Gram stain-negative specimens were culture positive.
- TABLE 2.
Specimens with and without classic bacterial meningitis-causing organisms and number not detected by BAT and Gram stain
Organism Total no. of specimens No. (%) of specimens not detected by: BAT Gram stain Detected by culturea Streptococcus pneumoniae 22 6 (27) 3 (14) Group B Streptococcus species 7 3 (43) 0 (0) Neisseria meningitidis 7 3 (43) 1 (14) Haemophilus influenzae type b 2 0 (0) 1 (50) Not detected by cultureb 4 1 (25) 0 (0) Total 42 13 (31) 5 (12) ↵ a Growth from cerebrospinal fluid, blood, or ear drainage specimens.
↵ b Results of both the BAT and the Gram stain were positive for three specimens, with results indicating N. meningitidis in two and S. pneumoniae in one. In one specimen, the Gram stain showed Gram-positive cocci resembling streptococci, the BAT was negative, and the urine pneumococcal antigen test was positive.
