Cerebrospinal Fluid Abnormalities in Bacterial Meningitis
Opening pressure | >180 mmH2O |
White blood cells | 10/µL to 10,000/µL; neutrophils predominate |
Red blood cells | Absent in nontraumatic tap |
Glucose | <2.2 mmol/L (<40 mg/dL) |
CSF/serum glucose | <0.4 |
Protein | >0.45 g/L (>45 mg/dL) |
Gram's stain | Positive in >60% |
Culture | Positive in >80% |
Latex agglutination | May be positive in patients with meningitis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae type b, Escherichia coli, group B streptococci |
Limulus lysate | Positive in cases of gram-negative meningitis |
PCR | Detects bacterial DNA |