What indicates chronic bacterial meningitis?

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Multiple Choice

What indicates chronic bacterial meningitis?

In meningitis, the CSF cell profile and glucose level reflect how long the infection has been present. Chronic bacterial meningitis tends to show a mononuclear pleocytosis (presence of monocytes or lymphocytes) with a reduced CSF glucose. The low glucose happens because bacteria and inflammatory cells consume glucose, and this pattern is characteristic of longer-standing infections such as tuberculous or other chronic bacterial meningitis. Having monocytes in the CSF aligns with the mononuclear inflammatory response seen in chronic stages, and the accompanying decreased glucose reinforces the chronic bacterial process. Neutrophils suggest an acute bacterial infection, while eosinophils are not typical of bacterial meningitis. Lymphocytes can be present in chronic meningitis as part of the mononuclear cell picture, but the combination described here—monocytes with low glucose—best signals chronic bacterial meningitis.

In meningitis, the CSF cell profile and glucose level reflect how long the infection has been present. Chronic bacterial meningitis tends to show a mononuclear pleocytosis (presence of monocytes or lymphocytes) with a reduced CSF glucose. The low glucose happens because bacteria and inflammatory cells consume glucose, and this pattern is characteristic of longer-standing infections such as tuberculous or other chronic bacterial meningitis.

Having monocytes in the CSF aligns with the mononuclear inflammatory response seen in chronic stages, and the accompanying decreased glucose reinforces the chronic bacterial process. Neutrophils suggest an acute bacterial infection, while eosinophils are not typical of bacterial meningitis. Lymphocytes can be present in chronic meningitis as part of the mononuclear cell picture, but the combination described here—monocytes with low glucose—best signals chronic bacterial meningitis.

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