title: Improving the bacteriological diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis.
abstract: We made a bacteriological diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis in 107 of 132 (81%) adults with clinical tuberculous meningitis: acid-fast bacilli were seen in 77 of 132 (58%) and cultured from 94 of 132 (71%). Volume of cerebrospinal fluid, duration of symptoms, cerebrospinal fluid neutrophils, lactate, and glucose were all independently associated with bacteriological confirmation.
authors.affiliation: Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. gthwaites@hcm.vnn.vn
authors.forename: Guy E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Thwaites
authors.forename: Tran Thi Hong
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Chau
authors.forename: Jeremy J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Farrar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014390:Tuberculosis, Meningeal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000382:microbiology*