Prevalence of Pathogens in Cerebrospinal Fluid Obtained From Emergency Department Patients
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Terminated
- Sponsor
- Enrollment
- 1,000
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- prevalence of pathogens
Study Overview
Brief Summary
Of all emergency room patients, persons presenting with encephalitis/meningitis syndrome of a potentially infectious nature are among those of greatest concern. Routine clinical and laboratory evaluation of such patients involves screening for known infectious disease agents, selection of which is nonstandardized. Progress in diagnostic technologies, especially molecular techniques based on genetic characteristics of potential pathogens, has greatly expanded the investigators capacity to evaluate specimens from patients for a much wider range of potential pathogens (bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic agents). Use of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology offers the possibility of identifying causative agents for the approximately 50% of all such presentations which go un-diagnosed. The investigators propose a study involving a collaboration between the EMERGEncy ID NET, a network of 10 geographically diverse university-affiliated urban emergency departments (coordinated by Olive View-UCLA Medical Center) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to use these new technologies to address this issue.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Observational
- Observational Model
- Ecologic Or Community
- Time Perspective
- Prospective
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 3 Months to — (Child, Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- •Age > or = 3 months old
- •Receiving a Lumbar Puncture in the emergency department as part of their standard care.
Exclusion Criteria
- •No CSF available
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
prevalence of pathogens
Time Frame: 2 years
We will describe the range and proportion of pathogens found in CSF among patients enrolled over a 2 year period.
Secondary Outcomes
No secondary outcomes reported
Investigators
David A. Talan
Principal Investigator
Olive View-UCLA Education & Research Institute
