New Test Diagnoses Bacterial Meningitis Quickly and Accurately

Bacterial meningitis is a potentially fatal condition, with one in six patients dying and half of the survivors experiencing lasting symptoms. Therefore, rapid diagnosis and treatment are critical. However, distinguishing bacterial meningitis from other similar conditions is often challenging for healthcare providers. Currently, it can take a considerable amount of time to diagnose meningitis, which delays the initiation of appropriate treatment. Until now, there have been no reliable diagnostic tests available that could quickly differentiate bacterial meningitis from other conditions. Researchers have now developed a new diagnostic test capable of quickly and accurately diagnosing bacterial meningitis by measuring the CRP protein in cerebrospinal fluid, a protein commonly tested in blood to detect bacterial infections.

Researchers at Amsterdam UMC (Amsterdam, Netherlands) found that the CRP protein in cerebrospinal fluid is a highly reliable indicator of bacterial meningitis. While CRP is often tested in blood to detect bacterial infections, its value in cerebrospinal fluid had not been extensively studied until now. After successful laboratory tests, the researchers demonstrated that the device used to measure CRP in blood is also sensitive enough to measure CRP in cerebrospinal fluid. Since June 2024, this new test has been incorporated into daily practice at Amsterdam UMC. In their latest, published in The Lancet Regional Health Europe, the researchers described how the test was introduced and assessed its effectiveness in a clinical setting.

Image: CRP protein in cerebrospinal fluid was found to be a very reliable indicator of bacterial meningitis (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

The results showed that all patients diagnosed with bacterial meningitis had elevated CRP levels in their cerebrospinal fluid, whereas only a few patients without bacterial meningitis showed similar elevations. The test was also proven to be reliable in additional studies conducted with children and patients in Denmark. It is expected that more hospitals will begin to adopt this test, as it can be performed in laboratories with existing equipment. The cost of the test ranges from three to five euros, offering an affordable and accessible solution for diagnosing and treating bacterial meningitis more quickly.

"Any laboratory in which CRP is measured in blood can introduce this test for cerebrospinal fluid tomorrow. We could not have predicted in advance that a new diagnostic test would be used in patients within a year of its discovery," said last author and Amsterdam UMC neurologist, Matthijs Brouwer.