Prevalence of Pathogens in Cerebrospinal Fluid Obtained From Emergency Department Patients
Prevalence of Pathogens in Cerebrospinal Fluid Obtained From Emergency Department Patients
Of all emergency room patients, persons presenting with encephalitis/meningitis syndrome of a
 potentially infectious nature are among those of greatest concern. Routine clinical and
 laboratory evaluation of such patients involves screening for known infectious disease
 agents, selection of which is nonstandardized. Progress in diagnostic technologies,
 especially molecular techniques based on genetic characteristics of potential pathogens, has
 greatly expanded the investigators capacity to evaluate specimens from patients for a much
 wider range of potential pathogens (bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic agents). Use of
 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology offers the possibility of identifying causative
 agents for the approximately 50% of all such presentations which go un-diagnosed. The
 investigators propose a study involving a collaboration between the EMERGEncy ID NET, a
 network of 10 geographically diverse university-affiliated urban emergency departments
 (coordinated by Olive View-UCLA Medical Center) and the Centers for Disease Control and
 Prevention (CDC), to use these new technologies to address this issue.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Age > or = 3 months old

 -  Receiving a Lumbar Puncture in the emergency department as part of their standard
 care.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  No CSF available