The place of computed tomography and lumbar puncture in suspected bacterial meningitis

Lumbar puncture and cerebrospinal fluid analysis

Examination of the CSF is the gold standard for the diagnosis of meningitis. There are a number of laboratory tests. in addition to CSF cell count, glucose concentration, Gram's stain, and bacterial culture, that are useful in identifying the organism and differentiating between bacterial and viral meningitis. These laboratory tests can be used in combination with the clinical presentation to determine which patient should be treated for bacterial meningitis while awaiting the result of CSF Gram's stain and bacterial culture.

Treatment of bacterial meningitis

Major epidemiological changes have altered the empiric therapy of patients with bacterial meningitis, a disease with significant morbidity and mortality. We offer recommendations for empiric management decisions and specific antibiotic choices for patients with bacterial meningitis.