Cerebrospinal fluid ferritin and albumin index: potential candidates for scoring system to differentiate between bacterial and viral meningitis in children

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic role of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) ferritin and albumin index (AI = CSF albumin/serum albumin × 1000) in differentiating acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) from acute viral meningitis (AVM) in children.

Methods: The study included 42 cases each of ABM and AVM in pediatric age group. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was carried out for CSF ferritin and AI. Binary logistic regression was also done.

Results: CSF ferritin and AI were found significantly higher in ABM compared to AVM. Model obtained using AI and CSF ferritin along with conventional criteria is better than existing models.

• Albumin index
• bacterial meningitis
• diagnostic model
• ferritin
• viral meningitis

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank the staff on the medical admissions ward at JIPMER Hospital, and the laboratory staff. Finally, we thank patients and guardians for their participation in the study.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

This work was supported by the Institute in which it was carried out i.e. Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research. [Grant No. Edn.7(1)/2012 dated 28 September 2014] (JIPMER) Puducherry, India.