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Indications for repeat lumbar punctures

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Repeat lumbar puncture is indicated if:

  • no clinical improvement occurs after treatment

  • focal neurological signs or seizures occur after improvement

  • prolonged or recurrent fever is present

  • the child is under twelve weeks of age and on antibiotics

After the start of antibiotic therapy, sterilization of the CSF is usually achieved within one hour if the bacterial count is less than 100,000 bacteria/ml. With coliform infections, sterilization may take up to three days.

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