^Normal or lower WBC results may be found in immunocompromised, early, or partially treated (e.g. with oral antibiotics) bacterial menintigis, and those with tuberculosis meningitis
^^Lymph predominance may be found in patients with early bacterial meningitis or those that have been partially treated (e.g. with oral antibiotics)
^^^For unexplained elevations of protein, consider encephalitis, MS, Guillian Barre
Corrections
WBC correction (for bloody tap)
Simplified version (if peripheral WBC and RBC counts are within normal limits):
Subtract 1 WBC for every 750 RBC in CSF
Complex version (WBC and/or RBC not within normal limits):
"WBCs added" = WBC(blood) x [RBC(CSF) / RBC(blood)]
WBC counted/resulted - "WBCs added" = actual WBC
Protein correction (for bloody tap)
For each 1000 RBC decrease protein value by 1mg/dl
Simplified version (if peripheral WBC and RBC counts are within normal limits):
Subtract 1 WBC for every 750 RBC in CSF
Complex version (WBC and/or RBC not within normal limits):
"WBCs added" = WBC(blood) x [RBC(CSF) / RBC(blood)]
WBC counted/resulted - "WBCs added" = actual WBC
Subtract 1 WBC for every 750 RBC in CSF
"WBCs added" = WBC(blood) x [RBC(CSF) / RBC(blood)]
WBC counted/resulted - "WBCs added" = actual WBC
For each 1000 RBC decrease protein value by 1mg/dl
CSF cultures are negative 2 hrs after parenteral antibiotics in meningococcal meningitis, and 6 hrs in pneumococcal meningitis
12 hrs after antibiotics: CSF glucose levels increase and protein levels decrease. CSF WBC and neutrophils are not affected
Lumbar puncture
Ventriculoperitoneal shunt drainage
CT brain interpretation
NIH Stroke Scale
Therapeutic hypothermia
Modified Rankin Scale
Brain MRI
Awake intubation