The value of cerebrospinal fluid enrichment culture in the diagnosis of acute bacterial meningitis.

The records of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examinations for the three-year period ending 30 September 1991 were studied retrospectively. From 3,161 examinations, 66 pathogens were detected, 64 of which were from primary agar plate culture. Enrichment broth culture yielded 219 isolates of which 217 were likely contaminants. Only two pathogens were isolated by enrichment, and in both samples the CSF leucocyte counts were abnormal. The use of enrichment broth culture should be confined to CSF specimens with abnormal leucocyte counts and/or Gram stains.