Resumen

CASAS, Daniel; RODRIGUEZ, Edvis; LIZARZABAL, Maribel  y  FERNANDEZ, José. Valor de cinta reactiva para el diagnostico de infecciones del liquido ascítico. Gen [online]. 2006, vol.60, n.4, pp.267-272. ISSN 0016-3503.

We planned to determine the utility of reagent strips for urine tests (Multistix 10SG) for the presumptive diagnosis of infections of ascitic fluid through leukocyte esterase determination in it, which is a known predictor of the presence of polymorphonuclear cells in corporal fluids. To a group of 43 cirrhotic patients with ascites that attended the University Hospital of Maracaibo, a diagnostic or therapeutic paracentesis was carried out for a 10 month period during the year 2004. We determined in the obtained samples of ascitic fluid, cellular count of polymorphonuclear cells, culture, and the leukocyte esterase test using the reagent strip designed for the testing in urine. Negative results were considered as such for infection (degrees 0 and 1); results +, ++ and +++ were considered positives for infections (degrees 2, 3 and 4), we also correlated each result of the reactive strip with cases of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), and noncomplicated bacteriascites. Of the 43 samples analyzed 3 were catalogued as SBP with a negative culture and were positive for the leukocyte esterase test (sensitivity 100%); of the 40 samples with counts lower than 250 polymorphonuclear cells by milliliter 38 presented a negative esterase test (specificity 95%). The positive predictive value was 60% and the negative predictive value was 100%. The use of reagent strips is effective in identifying the presence of leukocyte esterase in ascitic fluid and therefore on the presumptive diagnosis of infections of the ascitic fluid. Its use in the rapid diagnosis of infections of the ascitic fluid is advised and to avoid overlooking infections in cirrhotic patients undertaking intermittent therapeutic paracentesis.

Palabras clave : infections of ascitic fluid; reagent strips; diagnosis.

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