Bacterial antigen testing in CSF.Q What is the recommendation for performing bacterial antigen testing on a cerebro-spinal fluid (Physiol.) a serous fluid secreted by the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. See also: Cerebro-spinal (CSF Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Analysis Definition Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis is a laboratory test to examine a sample of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. ) specimen that is clear and colorless? A Many bacterial antigen tests are available for the reported rapid and accurate diagnosis of bacterial meningitis bacterial meningitis Acute bacterial meningitis Neurology Meningeal inflammation caused by bacteria which, if untreated, is often fatal, or associated with significant sequelae Epidemiology 60% are community-acquired–CM, 40% nosocomial–NM Predisposing . In general, these tests have not proven useful in the clinical microbiology Clinical microbiology The adaptation of microbiological techniques to the study of the etiological agents of infectious disease. Clinical microbiologists determine the nature of infectious disease and test the ability of various antibiotics to inhibit or kill laboratory. They do not have high sensitivity and specificity, and have not been shown to be cost-effective; thus, they should not be performed routinely. They may prove to be helpful when CSF cell counts are abnormal, the Gram stain gram stain Staining technique for the initial identification of bacteria, devised in 1884 by the Danish physician Hans Christian Gram (1853–1938). The stain reveals basic differences in the biochemical and structural properties of a living cell. is negative for organisms, and the patient has already been treated with antibiotics. Certainly, if a CSF specimen is clear and colorless, it is very unlikely to be positive for bacteria or their antigens. --Susan E. Sharp, PhD, (DABMM) Director of Microbiology Kaiser Permanente Pathology Regional Laboratory; Associate Professor Oregon Health and Science University Portland, OR Suggested Reading Sewell DL, MacLowry JD. Laboratory management. In: Patrick R, Baron EJ, Jorgensen JH, Pfaller MA, Yolken RH, eds. The Manual of Clinical Microbiology. 8th ed. Washington, DC: ASM (1) (Association for Systems Management) An international membership organization based in Cleveland, Ohio. Founded in 1947 and disbanded in 1996, it sponsored conferences in all phases of administrative systems and management. Press; 2003:12. Edited by Daniel M. Baer, MD MLO's "Tips from the Clinical Experts" provides practical, up-to-date solutions to readers' technical and clinical issues from a panel of experts in various fields. Readers may send questions to Dan Baer by e-mail at tips@mlo-online.com. |
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