Information about a lumbar puncture

What is a lumbar puncture?

Your baby was started on antibiotics due to risk factors for infection and/or clinical concerns, suggestive of the presence of infection.

When there is evidence of infection on your baby’s blood test results, we may want to take a sample of the fluid that surrounds the spinal cord called cerebrospinal fluid. This fluid flows down from the brain; so analysing it should show whether the infection is present in this vital part of the nervous system.

You should seek medical help from your midwife, GP, NHS direct or the emergency department if you are concerned that your baby has any of the following:

• is showing abnormal behaviour (for example, inconsolable crying, or listlessness)
• is unusually floppy
• has developed difficulties with feeding or with keeping feeds down
• has a temperature lower than 36°C or higher than 38°C
• has rapid breathing
• has a change in skin colour (for example, mottled/grey/blue)

The procedure

If we need to take this sample we will do it in the treatment room on Charles Wolfson Ward. The procedure is done under sterile conditions to minimise any risk to your baby of further infection. Your baby may be offered some sucrose (sugar water) solution as simple pain relief during the procedure.

A small needle is used and is placed between two bones low in your baby’s back. While many important nerves run though the spine, they will not be damaged because these nerves are all higher than the level where this needle is placed.

Results

The fluid sample will be sent to the lab for culture and the results should be available within 48 hours. This will further help decide the duration of the antibiotic treatment and whether further investigations are needed.

When to see medical help once at home with your baby

If your baby received antibiotics, or, was observed for 12 hours due to risk factors for infection, it is important to be aware of signs that suggest your baby is becoming unwell after discharge home.

Where to get further information

• National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) (opens in a new tab)
• Bliss (opens in a new tab), 0500 618140