[CRP in the management of bacterial infections in emergency].

Objectives: To assess the interest of measuring CRP in emergency for diagnosing bacterial infections and making decisions about antibiotics and to compare its practical usefulness with clinicians' conclusions.

Methods: Systematic CRP measurements in 80 consecutive patients admitted to emergency ward with possible bacterial infection.

Results: were not transmitted to the physician in charge.

[Meningitis with direct negative bacteriological examination. Prospective assessment of a decision making tree].

Objective: Elaboration of a decision-making tree for differential diagnosis of bacterial and viral meningitis, when initial Gram's staining is negative. Method One-Year prospective study in an adult emergency department. Comparison with the immediately-preceding period.

[Meningoencephalitis].

There are many infectious agents that may be responsible for meningoencephalitis. Historical data, clinical examination, analysis of cerebrospinal fluid and imaging often do not make it possible to retain initially a precise diagnostic orientation. In emergency, it is essential to seek the infectious causes imposing a specific treatment.

[Community-acquired bacterial meningitis in the Loire-Atlantic region: evolution of pneumococcal and meningococcal sensitivity to penicillin].

Objectives: An epidemiological study of community-acquired bacterial meningitis was conducted in Loire-Atlantique in subjects aged over 1 month. Risk factors and changes in pneumococcal and meningococcal susceptibility to betalactams were analyzed.

Patients And Methods: All cases of proven or presumed bacterial meningitis registered by Loire-Atlantic bacteriology laboratories between May 1995 and April 1998 were analyzed.