Improving the bacteriological diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis

Abstract

We made a bacteriological diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis in 107 of 132 (81%) adults with clinical tuberculous meningitis: acid-fast bacilli were seen in 77 of 132 (58%) and cultured from 94 of 132 (71%). Volume of cerebrospinal fluid, duration of symptoms, cerebrospinal fluid neutrophils, lactate, and glucose were all independently associated with bacteriological confirmation.

Figures

FIG. 1.

(a) Time to see two AFB in the CSF of 73 positive slides before starting ATC. (b) Relationship between volume of CSF taken and percentage of specimens with M. tuberculosis cultured from 118 HIV-negative patients with TBM.