BACTERIAL SEPSIS AND MENINGITIS - Nizet Laboratory at UCSD

meningitis was more than 2000 (range 6 to 40,000),
whereas the median number of cells per cubic millimeter
in 21 infants with group B streptococcal meningitis was
less than 100 (range 8 to >10,000) [560]. The concentration
of glucose in CSF usually is less than two thirds of
the concentration in blood. The concentration of protein
can be low (1000 mg/dL).
CSF parameters observed in the healthy term neonate
can overlap with those observed in the infant with
meningitis.
A Gram stain smear of CSF should be examined for
bacteria, and appropriate media should be inoculated with
the CSF specimen. Sarff and colleagues [560] detected
organisms in Gram stain smears of CSF in 83% of infants
with group B streptococcal meningitis and in 78% of
infants with gram-negative meningitis. After initiation of
appropriate antimicrobial therapy, gram-positive bacteria
usually clear from CSF within 36 hours, whereas in some
patients with meningitis caused by gram-negative enteric
bacilli, cultures can remain positive for many days [567].
Microorganisms can be isolated from CSF that has normal
white blood cell and chemistry test values. Visser and
Hall [556] reported normal CSF parameters (cell count