THE ISOLATION OF MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS BY FILTRATION TECHNIQUE FROM CEREBROSPINAL FLUID

Abstract

Collection on a filter membrane as a routine culture method has proved of great advantage in the isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from the cerebrospinal fluid. Its use, during combined intrathecal treatment with streptomycin and Purified Protein Derivative of tuberculin, shows that the organisms persist for an unexpectedly long time in the cerebrospinal fluid. In some instances, focal reaction to P.P.D. seems to liberate tubercle bacilli from the lesions into the fluid. Direct culture of C.S.F. on Loewenstein medium gave less than two positive specimens per patient and no positive cultures later than the second week of treatment. Filtration gave more profuse growth and persistence of positive cultures during treatment for as long as 28 weeks in some cases.

The Membrane Filter Technique for Estimating Numbers of Viable Bacteria

“…Aside from the coliforms and enterococci, growth of several other organisms has been described. Rogers et al (1955) and Morgante and Murray (1955) reported on cultivation of the tubercle organism; Orlando and Bolduan (1953) demonstrated growth of a variety of bacteria and fungi imperfecti on the MF. Gaspar and Leise (1955,1956) studied growth of Brucella melitensis and Bacterium tularense 1 This work was supported by the Office of Naval Research and the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery under ONR contract with the University of California, Berkeley, California.…”