Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis CSF

Cytocentrifuge ("Cytospin") preparation of cerebrospinal fluid from a two year old child stained with Field's stain and captured using transmitted light microscopy Normal cerebrospinal fluid contains virtually no neutrophils. This image shows CSF containing multiple neutrophils recognizable by their multilobated nuclei, indicating acute meningitis. The causative organism is also seen in this image. S. pneumoniae are visible as pairs of slightly off-round dots (diplococci) surrounded by a clear zone which represents the unstained mucopolysaccharide capsule. Image width 215 microns