Cerebrospinal fluid muramidase levels in meningitis

Rapid differentiation of bacterial meningitides by direct gas-liquid chromatography.

“…Leukocyte lactate dehydrogenase activity (6,7) and lysozyme levels increase in bacterial, but not in viral meningitis (8)(9)(10). Other diagnostic markers of purulent meningitis include: decreased CSF cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (11); increased lysozyme activity (10); increased creatinine phosphokinase (12); increased Creactive protein levels (13); and increased IgM concentration in the CSF (14). But none of these tests is specific for bacillary meningitis.…”

“…Limulus lysate test can help to quickly differentiate gram-negative from gram-positive meningitis (1,(15)(16)(17), but it does not differentiate neisserial from gram-negative bacillary meningitides. Counterimmunoelectrophoresis of CSF is specific, but false negative results have been reported in 10 to 23% of patients (18)(19)(20)(21). Gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) was found to be useful for rapid identification of anaerobic bacteria (22) and fungi (23).…”