Early diagnosis of meningococcal meningitis is essential for
stopping the disease in its tracks. The
most common ways to diagnose this meningitis is through either a blood sample,
or sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CDC, 2014). The
bacteria are most often found in those two places, as we discussed last
week. To receive a cerebrospinal fluid
sample, the patient must undergo a procedure called a lumbar puncture (CDC, 2014). The spinal cord does not completely fill the
spinal column. There is a space at the
bottom of the column where a needle can enter without hitting the spinal
cord. The fluid is withdrawn from this
space (CDC, 2014).
http://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/about/diagnosis-treatment.html
Once the sample is drawn, it is sent to a laboratory to be
tested. With the cerebrospinal fluid
sample, the bacteria may be seen with a high-powered microscope. However, to confirm if the bacteria is
present, it will grow into colonies on an appropriate medium in the lab (CDC, 2014). Growth signifies a positive test result of a
bacterium, but further tests are needed to determine which one (see below). If the patient gives a blood sample,
procedures called Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and/or a latex agglutination
tests must be performed (WHO, 2012). In the method
of PCR, we are able to isolate specific parts of the bacterium and make million
of copies of it. This betters our
chances of detection if only a few copies of the bacterium are present in the
sample (CDC, 2012). For the latex agglutination
test, latex beads with parts of the assumed bacterium are dropped over the
blood sample. If their suspicion is
correct, the blood sample will clump together (NIH, 2013).
http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/lab-manual/chpt06-culture-id.html
The samples are further tested in order to determine what bacteria
and strain they are working with. A procedure called a gram stain will be
performed (CDC, 2012). This procedure involves
different dyes being poured over the bacteria.
The characteristics of the bacterium determine what dyes will be
absorbed, and ultimately the color that it will be stained. The color also helps determine the shape of
the bacterium since it is easier to see (CDC, 2012).
This is important in order to determine what treatment the patient needs
to receive. Once the diagnosis is
confirmed, the treatment can begin.
http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/lab-manual/chpt06-culture-id.html
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (April, 2014).
Meningococcal Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/about/diagnosis-treatment.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (March, 2012).
Meningitis Chapter 10: PCR for Detection and Characterization of Bacterial
Meningitis Pathogens. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/lab-manual/chpt10-pcr.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (March, 2012).
Meningitis Chapter 6: Primary Culture and Presumptive Identification of
Nisseria meningitides, Streptococcus pneumonia, and Haemophilus influenza.
Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/lab-manual/chpt06-culture-id.html
National Institutes of Health, Medline Plus. (August, 2013)
Latex Agglutination Test. Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003334.htm
World Health Organization. (November, 2012). Meningococcal
Meningitis. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs141/en/
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