При абсцессах:
- •Elevated white blood cell (WBC) count or erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is not reliably found.6,30 •Blood culture results may only be positive in 30% of patients2,31 but should always be obtained. Hematogenous spread may be the source as noted above, and a positive blood culture result may help guide therapy, especially if empiric antibiotics are started and abscess fluid culture yields no growth.
- •Lumbar puncture (LP)
◦LP results are generally not helpful in the diagnosis of brain abscess. Performing this procedure in the emergency department is generally indicated only in cases highly suspicious for bacterial meningitis, with a careful balance between any potential change in management and the risk of CNS herniation.
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