The importance of the virology laboratory in the diagnosis and management of viral meningitis
S. Wildin and T. Chonmaitree
Recent advances in cell culture techniques have made possible the rapid and
accurate detection of enteroviruses, the most commonly identified cause of
aseptic meningitis. Between 1983 and 1985, 69 patients were diagnosed as
having enteroviral meningitis by viral culture of cerebrospinal fluid,
throat swab, and/or rectal swab or stool specimens. Half of the 49 patients
in whom the diagnosis was based on positive cerebrospinal fluid culture
benefited directly from viral culture results by early withdrawal of
antibiotics, early discharge, or changing of the diagnosis and prognosis of
the disease. Enteroviral cultures became positive in as early as 24 hours,
and most of the cultures became positive within one week. The cost of viral
culture is comparable with that of other microbiologic tests. The virology
laboratory has proved useful in the diagnosis and management of patients
with enteroviral meningitis.
