Podcast 556:  CSF - What is it good for?

Podcast 556: CSF - What is it good for?

Contributor: Eric Miller, MD

Educational Pearls:

  • A cell count is performed on tubes 1 and 4 to account for changes that may occur from blood entering the first sample from the needle insertion
  • Tube 2 and 3 are usually used for the other studies like protein levels, glucose levels and gram staining
  • Protein levels are often elevated in bacterial meningitis but can be helpful in diagnosis conditions like multiple sclerosis
  • Glucose levels are typically low in bacterial meningitis due to the use of glucose by bacteria
  • Cell counts above 3-5 cells are typically abnormal, but cell counts can vary widely depending on the type of meningitis (viral vs. bacterial) and how long the infection has been present.
  • Cell type and differential can indicate viral vs. bacterial meningitis
    • Neutrophils are more associated with bacterial causes
    • Lymphocytes are more associated with viral etiologies
  • CSF cultures are used to identify the cause of bacterial meningitis but can take days to result.
  • A gram stain can help determine if any bacteria are present as well as cell types present.

References

  1. Jain, R. Chang, WW. Emergency Department Approach to the Patient with Suspected Central Nervous System Infection. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2018 Nov;36(4):711-722. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2018.06.004.

Summarized by Jackson Roos, MS3 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD



Jaksot(1146)

Podcast 761: Peritonsillar Abscess: To Stab or Not to Stab?

Podcast 761: Peritonsillar Abscess: To Stab or Not to Stab?

Contributor: Jared Scott, MD Educational Pearls: Often present with complaints of sore throat, pain with swallowing, difficulty swallowing, voice change, and possible fever Retrospective study from 2...

7 Maalis 20226min

Podcast 760: Why Fentanyl is the Worst

Podcast 760: Why Fentanyl is the Worst

Contributor: Don Stader, MD Educational Pearls: Fentanyl's common administration route through pills has lowered the psychological barrier of using opioid compared to injecting and smoking heroin Fen...

1 Maalis 20228min

Podcast 759: Hyperkalemia and Myth of Kayexalate

Podcast 759: Hyperkalemia and Myth of Kayexalate

Contributor: Nick Tsipis, MD Educational Pearls: Acute hyperkalemia is characterized as serum K of 5.4 or higher in non-hemolyzed samples Hyperkalemia is commonly associated with end stage renal dise...

28 Helmi 20225min

Mental Health Monthly #10: The Elderly Psychotic Patient

Mental Health Monthly #10: The Elderly Psychotic Patient

Dr. Kim Nordstrom, a practicing emergency psychiatrist and associate professor with the University of Colorado, discusses various work-up models alongside valuable bedside tools for elderly patients w...

23 Helmi 202211min

Podcast 758: Vaccine Safety During Pregnancy

Podcast 758: Vaccine Safety During Pregnancy

Contributor: Nick Tsipis, MD Educational Pearls: Observational study in Israel evaluated cohort of vaccinated pregnant women receiving the initial Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine Looked at 24,...

22 Helmi 20223min

Podcast 757: History of Fevers and Thermometers

Podcast 757: History of Fevers and Thermometers

Contributor: Chris Holmes, MD Educational Pearls: Dr. Carl Reinhold August Wunderlich, of the mid-1800s, was the first physician to suggest temperature was related to disease processes and his measur...

21 Helmi 20226min

Podcast 756: Violence Towards ED Staff

Podcast 756: Violence Towards ED Staff

Contributor: Jared Scott, MD Educational Pearls: ACEP survey was done in 2018 looking at violence towards staff in the ED with only 10% of those solicited responding Survey found 47% of respondents w...

15 Helmi 20224min

Podcast 755: Tubo-Ovarian Abscess

Podcast 755: Tubo-Ovarian Abscess

Contributor: Peter Bakes, MD Educational Pearls: Tubo-ovarian abscess is a rare complication of pelvic inflammatory disease Usually presents with chief complaint of abdominal pain and is often diagno...

14 Helmi 20223min

Suosittua kategoriassa Tiede

tiedekulma-podcast
rss-mita-tulisi-tietaa
rss-poliisin-mieli
docemilia
rss-duodecim-lehti
rss-luontopodi-samuel-glassar-tutkii-luonnon-ihmeita
utelias-mieli
rss-astetta-parempi-elama-podcast
filocast-filosofian-perusteet
rss-lapsuuden-rakentajat-podcast
rss-sosiopodi