II. Test Sensitivity: Gram Stain

  1. Factors improving sensitivity
    1. Centrifugation
    2. Experienced technician
  2. Bacterial Meningitis
    1. Overall
      1. Untreated cases: Up to 80%
      2. Treated cases: Up to 60%
    2. Organism concentration
      1. Colony forming units (CFU) <1000/mm3: 25%
      2. Colony forming units (CFU) >100,000/mm3: 75%
    3. Organism specific
      1. Streptococcus Pneumoniae: 90%
      2. Listeria monocytogenes: 50%

III. Preparations: Special stains

  1. Acid Fast Stain: Tuberculosis
  2. India Ink: Cryptococcus (tap water control required)
  3. Wright or Giemsa stain: Toxoplasmosis
  4. Saline mount: Protozoa

IV. References

  1. Kooiker in Roberts (1998) Procedures in ER, p. 1067-75
  2. Ravel (1995) Lab Medicine, Mosby, p. 294-9
  3. Tunkel in Mandell (2000) Infectious Disease, p. 974-8
  4. Seehusen (2003) Am Fam Physician 68:1103-8 [PubMed]

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Ontology: CSF gram stain method (C0523199)

Concepts Laboratory Procedure (T059)
SnomedCT 104200004
English CSF gram stain method (procedure), Cerebrospinal fluid gram stain method (procedure), Cerebrospinal fluid gram stain method, Cerebrospinal fluid gram stain, cerebrospinal fluid Gram stain (lab test), cerebrospinal fluid Gram stain, CSF Gram stain, Gram stain, CSF, CSF gram stain method, CSF gram stain, Gram stain, CSF (procedure)
Spanish método de tinción de Gram, LCR, tinción de Gram, líquido cefalorraquídeo, Tinción de gram de LCR, tinción de Gram, líquido cefalorraquídeo (procedimiento), método de tinción de Gram, líquido cefalorraquídeo (procedimiento), método de tinción de Gram, líquido cefalorraquídeo
Portuguese Coloração de Gram no LCR
Dutch gramkleuring van ruggenmergvocht
Italian Colorazione di Gram del LCS
French Coloration de Gram sur LCR
German Liquor Gram-Faerbung
Czech Gramovo barvení v mozkomíšním moku
Japanese CSFグラム染色, CSFグラムセンショク
Hungarian CSF gram festés