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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Aug 1.
Published in final edited form as: Biomark Med. 2014;8(9):1085–1103. doi: 10.2217/bmm.14.67

Figure 2. Algorithm for diagnosis of meningitis in patients without known immune compromise.

Figure 2

*If appropriate consider rapid HIV test, If HIV-infected, refer to Figure 1 algorithm.

**If mild immune compromise include cryptococcal antigen lateral flow assay, treat bacterial etiology accordingly if positive.

†Likely bacterial meningitis, continue empiric antibiotics, await definitive etiology.

‡Most likely aseptic meningitis, consider stopping empiric antibiotics, consider sending appropriate nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs).

§Most likely tuberculosis meningitis. If duration of symptoms are compatible, strongly consider empiric treatment and/or NAATs, ideally testing a large volume (>5 ml) of centrifuged cerebrospinal fluid.

Most likely aseptic meningitis, although may be tuberculosis meningiti as well. If strong clinical suspicion, consider TB NAATs.

AFB: Acid-fast bacilli; CrAg: Cryptococcal antigen; CSF: Cerebrospinal fluid.