What are the characteristic CSF findings in the different types of meningitis?
Normal
Bacterial Meningitis
Viral Meningitis
TB Meningitis
Fungal Meningitis
Opening Pressure
5-20
>30
Normal or slightly raised
Variable
Variable
Appearance
Normal
Turbid
'Gin' Clear
Fibrin web
Fibrin web
Cell Differential
Normal
Neutrophilic (polymorphonuclear) pleocytosis
Lymphocytic (mononuclear) pleocytosis
Lymphocytic (mononuclear) pleocytosis
Lymphocytic (mononuclear) pleocytosis
WCC (per mm3)
<3
>500
(Up to 100,000)
(Up to 100,000)
<1000
100-500
100-500
Protein (g/L)
0.2-0.4
>1
High
High
0.5-1
Normal - high
Normal - high
1.0-5.0
High - very high
High - very high
0.2-5.0
Variable
Variable
Glucose-Serum Ratio
0.5-0.66
(2.5-3.5 mmol/L)
<0.4
Low
Low
>0.6
<0.4
<0.4
Low normal
Low normal
Lactate
Normal
Elevated
Normal
Very Low
Elevated
Gram stain
Normal
25-90% positive
Gram Stain
Gram Stain
Negative
6-10% positive
ZN Stain
ZN Stain
50% positive
India Ink Stain (cryptococcus)
India Ink Stain (cryptococcus)
Microscopy & culture
-
60-90% positive
Viral culture rarely positive (<5%)
60-70% positive
80-90% positive
PCR
-
-
HSV ≥90% positive
60-90% positive
-
Other
-
-
-
Antigen 95% positive
(cryptococcus)
(cryptococcus)