32. A Pain in the Neck - Meningitis
The Intern At Work: Internal Medicine
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CSF Analysis in Bacterial Meningitis
The key diagnostic test for suspected bacterial meningitis is a lumbar puncture. If you are concerned about a CNS mass lesion, or if there are any signs of increased intracranial pressure, a CT scan of the head should be completed before the LP. You should also obtain two sets of blood cultures prior to starting empiric antibiotics. This is especially important if CSF cannot be obtained prior to starting antimicrobial therapy.
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