Abstract
Introduction: Bacterial meningitis can impose many unintended consequences in patients. As a result, rapid diagnosis and application of imperial therapy as soon as possible can reduce patients’ mortality, so the purpose of present study is to investigate the efficiency of leukocyte esterase strip test in the rapid diagnosis of bacterial meningitis.
Materials and Methods: This study was based on a cross-sectional study. The target population was included all patients admitted to the infectious ward of the hospital with a probability diagnosis of LP meningitis. Leukocyte esterase, protein and glucose tests were evaluated in all patients and protein above 45 and glucose less than
blood concurrent glucose and positive leukocyte esterase with each number were considered as positive cases and finally sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of these tests were evaluated.
Results: According to the results of the present study, 66.7% were male and 33.3% were female. 51.9% were under 60 years old and 48.1% were over 60 years old and 29.6% had fever and 70.4% had no fever. The sensitivity of urinary strip test in the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis was obtained for glucose 66.7% and for specificity 73.3% and for positive predictive value 66.7% and for negative predictive value 73.3%. Sensitivity and specificity for protein was obtained 25% and 93.3%, respectively. Also, sensitivity and specificity for leukocyte esterase was obtained 50% and 100%, respectively.
Conclusion: According to the results, the specificity and positive predictive value of leukocyte esterase were obtained very excellent in differentiating bacterial meningitis and the sensitivity was not in an optimal extent. It is suggested that leukocyte esterase be used as an early and rapid diagnostic test along with glucose and protein to aid in imperial therapy by clinicians.

Key words: Meningitis, Leukocyte esterase, Strip test.