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The Journal of Infection Apr 2016Bacterial meningitis and meningococcal sepsis are rare conditions with high case fatality rates. Early recognition and prompt treatment saves lives. In 1999 the British...
Bacterial meningitis and meningococcal sepsis are rare conditions with high case fatality rates. Early recognition and prompt treatment saves lives. In 1999 the British Infection Society produced a consensus statement for the management of immunocompetent adults with meningitis and meningococcal sepsis. Since 1999 there have been many changes. We therefore set out to produce revised guidelines which provide a standardised evidence-based approach to the management of acute community acquired meningitis and meningococcal sepsis in adults. A working party consisting of infectious diseases physicians, neurologists, acute physicians, intensivists, microbiologists, public health experts and patient group representatives was formed. Key questions were identified and the literature reviewed. All recommendations were graded and agreed upon by the working party. The guidelines, which for the first time include viral meningitis, are written in accordance with the AGREE 2 tool and recommendations graded according to the GRADE system. Main changes from the original statement include the indications for pre-hospital antibiotics, timing of the lumbar puncture and the indications for neuroimaging. The list of investigations has been updated and more emphasis is placed on molecular diagnosis. Approaches to both antibiotic and steroid therapy have been revised. Several recommendations have been given regarding the follow-up of patients.
Topics: Adult; Critical Care; Humans; Meningitis, Bacterial; Meningococcal Infections; Neisseria meningitidis; Sepsis; Spinal Puncture; United Kingdom
PubMed: 26845731
DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2016.01.007 -
The Journal of Infection Sep 2022To determine the incidence, clinical course, radiological patterns, and clinical outcome of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) complicating community-acquired bacterial...
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence, clinical course, radiological patterns, and clinical outcome of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) complicating community-acquired bacterial meningitis.
METHODS
The clinical characteristics and outcome of patients with ICH complicating bacterial meningitis were studied in a prospectively nationwide cohort in the Netherlands performed from 2006 to 2018.
RESULTS
ICH was identified in 44 of 2306 episodes of bacterial meningitis (1.9%). Nine of these patients (20%) were diagnosed with ICH on admission and 35 (80%) during clinical course after a median of 5 days (1-9). ICH occurred in 4 patients with endocarditis (9%), 9 patients on anticoagulation (vitamin K antagonists and heparin; 20%), and 10 patients with cerebral infarctions (23%). In 31 patients (70%) ICH was a lobar haematoma. ICH in bacterial meningitis was associated with high rates of death (24 of 44 [55%] vs. 346 of 2200 [16%]; P < 0.001) and unfavourable outcome compared to non-ICH patients (39 of 44 [89%] vs. 798 of 2200 [36%]; P < 0.001). Neurological sequelae on discharge occurred frequently in ICH survivors compared to non-ICH patients (15 of 20 [75%] vs. 203 of 1669 [12%]; P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
ICH is a rare but severe complication in patients with bacterial meningitis occurring in those with endocarditis, cerebral infarction, and anticoagulant use. ICH complicating bacterial meningitis is associated with high rates of death and morbidity.
Topics: Anticoagulants; Cerebral Hemorrhage; Cerebral Infarction; Endocarditis; Humans; Meningitis, Bacterial
PubMed: 35728645
DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2022.06.013 -
American Family Physician Mar 2022
Topics: Child; Humans; Infant; Meningitis, Bacterial
PubMed: 35289562
DOI: No ID Found -
Cerebrovascular Diseases (Basel,... 2022Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) has been described as an uncommon complication of community-acquired bacterial meningitis. However, the incidence, clinical course, and...
INTRODUCTION
Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) has been described as an uncommon complication of community-acquired bacterial meningitis. However, the incidence, clinical course, and outcome are unclear.
METHODS
We assessed the clinical characteristics, incidence, and clinical outcome of patients with SAH complicating bacterial meningitis in a prospective nationwide cohort study from 2006 to 2018 in the Netherlands. Patients were identified through the Netherlands Reference Laboratory for Bacterial Meningitis, which receives around 90% of CSF isolates of all Dutch patients with bacterial meningitis, or after direct report by the treating physician.
RESULTS
SAH was diagnosed in 22 of 2,306 episodes (0.9%), of which 7 (32%) were diagnosed upon admission and 15 (68%) during admission. All patients showed clinical deterioration before SAH was diagnosed: altered mental status in 18 of 22 patients (82%), focal neurological symptoms in 2 (9%) and, new-onset fever with severe tachycardia in 1 (5%). Acute onset of headache was not reported in any of the patients. Distribution of blood was diffuse in the subarachnoid space in 7 patients (32%), multifocal in 8 patients (36%), and focal in 7 patients (32%) of 22 patients. In 6 patients (27%), CT angiography, MR angiography, or digital subtraction angiography was performed, showing a mycotic aneurysm in 1 patient (5%) and vasculitis in 1 patient (5%). Presence of SAH in bacterial meningitis patients was associated with a poor prognosis assessed at discharge: 12 of 22 patients with SAH died (54%) compared to 361 of 2,257 (16%, p < 0.001) without SAH, and 19 of 22 had an unfavorable outcome (86%) compared to 831 of 2,257 (37%, p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
SAH is an uncommon complication in bacterial meningitis and is associated with high case fatality and morbidity.
Topics: Angiography, Digital Subtraction; Cohort Studies; Humans; Meningitis, Bacterial; Prospective Studies; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
PubMed: 34515065
DOI: 10.1159/000518089 -
PloS One 2017Bacterial meningitis persists in being a substantial cause of high mortality and severe neurological morbidity, despite the advances in antimicrobial therapy. Accurate... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
INTRODUCTION
Bacterial meningitis persists in being a substantial cause of high mortality and severe neurological morbidity, despite the advances in antimicrobial therapy. Accurate data has not been available regarding the epidemiology of bacterial meningitis particularly in developing countries, yet. Indeed, the present systematic review provides a comprehensive data analysis on the prevalence and epidemiology of bacterial meningitis in Iran.
METHODS
We systematically reviewed articles from 1994 to 2015. The reports which contained the prevalence and etiology of acute bacterial meningitis by valid clinical and laboratory diagnosis were comprised in the present study.
RESULTS
Our analysis indicated that Streptococcus pneumoniae (30% [I2 = 56% p < 0.01]), Haemophilus influenza type b (15% [I2 = 82.75% p < 0.001]), coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) (14% [I2 = 60.5% p < 0.06]), and Neisseria meningitidis (13% [I2 = 74.16% p < 0.001]) were the most common cause of acute bacterial meningitis among meningitis cases in Iran. Notably, high frequency rates of nosocomial meningitis pathogens were detected in the present analysis.
CONCLUSIONS
It was magnificently attained that the majority of cases for bacterial meningitis in Iran could be avertable by public immunization schemes and by preventive care to inhibit the broadening of hospital acquired pathogens.
Topics: Biomarkers; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Iran; Meningitis, Bacterial; Phenotype; Population Surveillance; Prevalence
PubMed: 28170400
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169617 -
Journal of the American Geriatrics... Jul 2022Advanced age is a risk factor for unfavorable outcome in community-acquired bacterial meningitis, but clinical characteristics and outcome in meningitis patients of...
BACKGROUND
Advanced age is a risk factor for unfavorable outcome in community-acquired bacterial meningitis, but clinical characteristics and outcome in meningitis patients of 80 years or older have not been defined.
METHODS
We compared clinical characteristics and outcome of community-acquired bacterial meningitis patients aged 80 years or older and adults under 80 years old within a prospective nationwide cohort study.
RESULTS
Out of 2140 episodes identified between March 2006 and July 2018, 149 occurred in patients aged 80 years or older (7%). Common predisposing factors other than age were diabetes mellitus (25 of 148 [17%]), otitis or sinusitis (30 of 136 [22%]), and pneumonia (23 of 141 [16%]). The triad of fever, neck stiffness and altered consciousness was present in 60 of 139 (43%). The most common causative pathogen was Streptococcus pneumoniae (99 of 149 [66%]). Atypical causative pathogens, such as Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli, occurred more often compared to younger patients (49 of 149 [33%] vs 362 of 1991 [18%]; p < 0.001). Patients of 80 years and older had high case fatality rate (75 of 149 [50%]), but 45 of 149 (30%) had a favorable outcome. Characteristics associated with an unfavorable outcome were absence of otitis or sinusitis, presence of aphasia, mono- or hemiparesis, a lower score on the Glasgow Coma Scale, a higher heart rate, a higher blood C-reactive protein concentration and CSF leukocytes <100 per mm .
CONCLUSIONS
Bacterial meningitis in patients of 80 years of older is associated with high rates of unfavorable outcome and death. Atypical causative pathogens such as L. monocytogenes, S. aureus, and E. coli occur commonly and should be considered when starting empirical antimicrobial therapy in this age group.
Topics: Aged, 80 and over; Cohort Studies; Community-Acquired Infections; Escherichia coli; Humans; Meningitis, Bacterial; Otitis; Prospective Studies; Staphylococcus aureus
PubMed: 35352336
DOI: 10.1111/jgs.17766 -
Brain : a Journal of Neurology Nov 2019Bacterial meningitis is most commonly caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis and continues to pose a major public health threat. Morbidity and... (Review)
Review
Bacterial meningitis is most commonly caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis and continues to pose a major public health threat. Morbidity and mortality of meningitis are driven by an uncontrolled host inflammatory response. This comprehensive update evaluates the role of the complement system in upregulating and maintaining the inflammatory response in bacterial meningitis. Genetic variation studies, complement level measurements in blood and CSF, and experimental work have together led to the identification of anaphylatoxin C5a as a promising treatment target in bacterial meningitis. In animals and patients with pneumococcal meningitis, the accumulation of neutrophils in the CSF was mainly driven by C5-derived chemotactic activity and correlated positively with disease severity and outcome. In murine pneumococcal meningitis, adjunctive treatment with C5 antibodies prevented brain damage and death. Several recently developed therapeutics target C5 conversion, C5a, or its receptor C5aR. Caution is warranted because treatment with C5 antibodies such as eculizumab also inhibits the formation of the membrane attack complex, which may result in decreased meningococcal killing and increased meningococcal disease susceptibility. The use of C5a or C5aR antagonists to specifically target the harmful anaphylatoxins-induced effects, therefore, are most promising and present opportunities for a phase 2 clinical trial.
Topics: Animals; Complement C5a; Complement System Proteins; Humans; Immunotherapy; Inflammation; Meningitis, Bacterial; Mice
PubMed: 31373605
DOI: 10.1093/brain/awz222 -
PloS One 2017We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to address the question "what is the impact of meningitis on IQ and development." (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to address the question "what is the impact of meningitis on IQ and development."
METHODS
Search: conducted using standardized search terms across Medline, PsychInfo and EMBASE to 06/2014. Eligibility: human studies of any infectious aetiology of meningitis reporting IQ or infant developmental age or stage outcomes. Quality: Centre for Evidence Based Medicine, Oxford, quality tools. Analysis: random effects meta-analysis by organism.
RESULTS
39 studies were included in the review, 34 providing data on IQ (2015 subjects) and 12 on developmental delay (382 subjects). Across all bacterial organisms, meningitis survivors had a mean IQ 5.50 (95% CI: -7.19, -3.80; I2 = 47%, p = 0.02) points lower than controls. IQ was significantly lower than controls for Neisseria meningitides (NM: 5 points) and Haemophilus influenzae b (Hib: 6 points) but not in viral meningitis, with only single studies included for Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP) and group B streptococcus (GBS). The pooled relative risk (RR) for low IQ (IQ<70) in survivors of bacterial meningitis compared with controls was 4.99 (95% CI: 3.17, 7.86) with no significant heterogeneity (I2 = 49%, p = 0.07). Developmental delay of approximately 0.5SD was reported in studies of bacterial meningitis but no delay in the only study of viral meningitis.
CONCLUSIONS
We found moderate evidence that surviving bacterial meningitis has a deleterious impact on IQ and development but no evidence that viral meningitis had meaningful cognitive impacts. Survivors of bacterial meningitis should be routinely offered screening for cognitive deficits and developmental delay in addition to hearing loss.
Topics: Humans; Intelligence; Meningitis, Bacterial; Meningitis, Viral
PubMed: 28837564
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175024 -
International Journal of Infectious... Oct 2021To analyze the clinical and laboratory characteristics of vertebral osteomyelitis in community-acquired bacterial meningitis patients.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the clinical and laboratory characteristics of vertebral osteomyelitis in community-acquired bacterial meningitis patients.
METHODS
All episodes of vertebral osteomyelitis in a cohort study of adult patients with community-acquired bacterial meningitis in the Netherlands were analyzed. Subsequently, a systematic review of published cases was performed.
RESULTS
Between March 2006 and August 2018, 10 of 1974 (0.5%) meningitis patients were diagnosed with vertebral osteomyelitis. The median age was 70 years (interquartile range (IQR) 54-74 years); six (60%) were male and four (40%) were female. The median time between diagnosis of bacterial meningitis and vertebral osteomyelitis was 6 days (IQR 1-13 days). The most common presenting symptoms were back or neck pain, occurring in seven patients (70%); one patient presented with neurological deficits due to cauda equina compression. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the causative pathogen in five patients and Staphylococcus aureus in three. The literature review identified 32 additional cases, showing a similar distribution by age, sex, and pathogen. Seven (18%) of 40 patients from the series presented here and those reported in the literature died.
CONCLUSIONS
Concomitant vertebral osteomyelitis is rare in community-acquired bacterial meningitis patients. Persisting back pain is a clue to the diagnosis and should prompt magnetic resonance imaging of the spine, because prolonged antibiotic treatment or surgical treatment may be indicated.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Cohort Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Meningitis, Bacterial; Middle Aged; Osteomyelitis; Spine; Staphylococcal Infections
PubMed: 34487853
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.08.069 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2021Bacterial meningitis (BM) is an acute infectious central nervous system (CNS) disease worldwide, occurring with 50% of the survivors left with a long-term serious... (Review)
Review
Bacterial meningitis (BM) is an acute infectious central nervous system (CNS) disease worldwide, occurring with 50% of the survivors left with a long-term serious sequela. Acute bacterial meningitis is more prevalent in resource-poor than resource-rich areas. The pathogenesis of BM involves complex mechanisms that are related to bacterial survival and multiplication in the bloodstream, increased permeability of blood-brain barrier (BBB), oxidative stress, and excessive inflammatory response in CNS. Considering drug-resistant bacteria increases the difficulty of meningitis treatment and the vaccine also has been limited to several serotypes, and the morbidity rate of BM still is very high. With recent development in neurology, there is promising progress for drug supplements of effectively preventing and treating BM. Several in vivo and in vitro studies have elaborated on understanding the significant mechanism of melatonin on BM. Melatonin is mainly secreted in the pineal gland and can cross the BBB. Melatonin and its metabolite have been reported as effective antioxidants and anti-inflammation, which are potentially useful as prevention and treatment therapy of BM. In bacterial meningitis, melatonin can play multiple protection effects in BM through various mechanisms, including immune response, antibacterial ability, the protection of BBB integrity, free radical scavenging, anti-inflammation, signaling pathways, and gut microbiome. This manuscript summarizes the major neuroprotective mechanisms of melatonin and explores the potential prevention and treatment approaches aimed at reducing morbidity and alleviating nerve injury of BM.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Biological Availability; Blood-Brain Barrier; Cytokines; Humans; Matrix Metalloproteinases; Melatonin; Meningitis, Bacterial; Oxidative Stress
PubMed: 33808027
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26051419