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Título

CEREBROSPINAL FLUID (CSF) CULTURE RESULTS IN 47,473 CSF SAMPLES WITH NORMAL CELL COUNT AND BIOCHEMICAL RESULTS

Resumo

INTRODUCTION: Some studies have shown there is a low probability of positive microbiological results in patients with suspected meningitis/encephalitis and with normal CSF cell count. However, there is not yet a clear recommendation of not performing CSF culture in such cases.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the presented study was to retrospectively analyze all the CSF culture results in samples obtained from patients with suspected meningitis and/or encephalitis sent to a specialized laboratory over a period of 3 years.

METHOD: Culture results for bacteria, fungi, and mycobacteria in patients diagnosed or suspected of having meningitis and/or encephallitis were analyzed. CSF general analysis was considered altered when at least one of the following were identified: global count above 3 cells/mm3, protein above 45 mg/dL, glucose below 50 mg/dL, lactate above 19.6 mg/dL.

RESULTS: Five hundred and nine (509) culture samples (1.07%) were positive. CSF general analysis was altered in 495 (97.25%) and normal in 14 (2.75%) of them. In nine cases the identified bacteria were considered a sample contamination. In 5 there was a positive result for Cryptococcus.

CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that except in cases of cryptococcal meningitis, in which the CSF culture may remain positive after CSF normalization and is a therapy parameter, to perform a microbiological evaluation in CSF samples with normal cell and biochemical parameters is not justified.