Central nervous system infections

N.B. If meningitis or meningococcal septicaemia is suspected in primary care, arrange for immediate hospital transfer. Parenteral antibiotics should be given as soon as meningococcal disease is suspected, as long as hospital transfer is not delayed by administration.

Sampling for CNS infections

Condition Samples to send Comments

Bacterial meningitis
  • Blood culture
  • CSF in universal container(s) (white) for urgent microscopy, culture, and bacterial PCR (N. meningitidis, H. influenzae, and S. pneumoniae)
  • Serum blood sample (white top) or EDTA blood (purple top) for bacterial PCR
  • Throat swab (charcoal) for N. meningitidis culture

Samples which show a predominance of lymphocytes on microscopy are sent for viral PCR, even if not requested.

CSF microscopy is available out-of-hours.

Contact the on call biomedical scientist for Microbiology via switchboard.

 

Viral encephalitis
  • CSF in universal container (white) for urgent microscopy, culture, and viral PCR (Herpes simplex, Varicella virus, and enterovirus)
  • Sampling as for bacterial meningitis if diagnosis unclear

 

 

Guideline reviewed October 2023
Page updated February 2024



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