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Updated: Jul 25, 2026
09:58
A Choroid Plexus Epithelial Cell-based Model of the Human Blood-Cerebrospinal Fluid Barrier to Study Bacterial Infection from the Basolateral Side
Published on: May 6, 2016
[The cerebrospinal fluid in bacterial meningitis]
C E de Campos1, N N Santos, M N Takahashi
1Hospital Emiílio Ribas, São Paulo, Brasil.
Revista Da Sociedade Brasileira De Medicina Tropical
|April 1, 1994
Summary
Cerebrospinal fluid analysis during a 1989 meningitis outbreak in Brazil identified Neisseria meningitidis as the primary pathogen. CSF characteristics like turbidity and elevated white cells correlated with bacterial meningitis and specific pathogen identification.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Meningitis outbreaks pose significant public health challenges, necessitating rapid and accurate etiological diagnosis.
- Understanding the microbiological and cytochemical profiles of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causative agents and diagnostic markers of bacterial meningitis during an outbreak in São Paulo, Brazil.
- To correlate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings with specific bacterial pathogens.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 1815 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples collected during a 1989 meningitis outbreak.
- Identification of bacterial pathogens including Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
- Cytochemical analysis of CSF, including cell counts, glucose, and protein levels, alongside microscopy and culture.
Main Results:
- Neisseria meningitidis was the predominant pathogen (56%), particularly type B.
- Haemophilus influenzae (17%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (14%) were also identified, with higher prevalence in children.
- CSF analysis revealed purulent or turbid aspects (70-79%), elevated white blood cells (>500/mm3), low glucose (<45 mg/dl), and high protein (>90 mg/dl) in most patients.
Conclusions:
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytochemical factors and appearance are reliable indicators of bacterial meningitis.
- Bacterioscopy and positive CSF cultures effectively correlate with the isolation of Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae.
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Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a colorless liquid that flows around the brain and the spinal cord, playing a vital role in the protection, support, and overall function of the central nervous system (CNS). CSF production, circulation, and absorption are tightly regulated processes essential for the brain and spinal cord to function properly.
CSF Production
CSF is produced mainly in the choroid plexus, a network of capillaries and ependymal cells located within the ventricular system of the brain.
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