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Ivaska L, Herberg J, Sadarangani M. Distinguishing community-acquired bacterial and viral meningitis: Microbes and biomarkers. J Infect 2024; 88:106111. [PMID: 38307149 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2024.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Diagnostic tools to differentiate between community-acquired bacterial and viral meningitis are essential to target the potentially lifesaving antibiotic treatment to those at greatest risk and concurrently spare patients with viral meningitis from the disadvantages of antibiotics. In addition, excluding bacterial meningitis and thus decreasing antibiotic consumption would be important to help reduce antimicrobial resistance and healthcare expenses. The available diagnostic laboratory tests for differentiating bacterial and viral meningitis can be divided microbiological pathogen-focussed methods and biomarkers of the host response. Bacterial culture-independent microbiological methods, such as highly multiplexed nucleic acid amplification tests, are rapidly making their way into the clinical practice. At the same time, more conventional host protein biomarkers, such as procalcitonin and C-reactive protein, are supplemented by newer proteomic and transcriptomic signatures. This review aims to summarise the current state and the recent advances in diagnostic methods to differentiate bacterial from viral meningitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauri Ivaska
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Savitehtaankatu 5, 20521 Turku, Finland; InFLAMES Research Flagship Center, University of Turku, Kiinanmyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland.
| | - Jethro Herberg
- Section of Paediatric Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Manish Sadarangani
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Vaccine Evaluation Center, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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Takahashi H, Hanya M, Ishino H. Fever of Unknown Origin With Normal Inflammatory Markers Due to Latent Pulmonary Embolism and Deep Vein Thrombosis: A Case Report. Cureus 2023; 15:e42850. [PMID: 37664399 PMCID: PMC10473233 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.42850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
An 86-year-old woman who was hospitalized due to cerebral hemorrhage developed an intermittent fever of up to 39.3°C. A computed tomography angiography of the chest with venous runoff to the legs showed pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the legs. Intravenous heparin rapidly reduced the fever, indicating that these thrombi were the primary cause of her fever. During her course, white blood cell count and serum C-reactive protein levels were always within normal limits. This case suggested that latent PE and DVT can be a cause of intermittent fever with normal inflammatory markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisashi Takahashi
- Neurology, North Medical Center, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Yosano-Cho, JPN
| | - Misaki Hanya
- Neurology, North Medical Center, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Yosano-Cho, JPN
| | - Hidetaka Ishino
- General Internal Medicine, North Medical Center, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Yosano-Cho, JPN
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Althaus T, Thaipadungpanit J, Greer RC, Swe MMM, Dittrich S, Peerawaranun P, Smit PW, Wangrangsimakul T, Blacksell S, Winchell JM, Diaz MH, Day NPJ, Smithuis F, Turner P, Lubell Y. Causes of fever in primary care in Southeast Asia and the performance of C-reactive protein in discriminating bacterial from viral pathogens. Int J Infect Dis 2020; 96:334-342. [PMID: 32437937 PMCID: PMC7211754 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study investigated causes of fever in the primary levels of care in Southeast Asia, and evaluated whether C-reactive protein (CRP) could distinguish bacterial from viral pathogens. METHODS Blood and nasopharyngeal swab specimens were taken from children and adults with fever (>37.5 °C) or history of fever (<14 days) in Thailand and Myanmar. RESULTS Of 773 patients with at least one blood or nasopharyngeal swab specimen collected, 227 (29.4%) had a target organism detected. Influenza virus type A was detected in 85/227 cases (37.5%), followed by dengue virus (30 cases, 13.2%), respiratory syncytial virus (24 cases, 10.6%) and Leptospira spp. (nine cases, 4.0%). Clinical outcomes were similar between patients with a bacterial or a viral organism, regardless of antibiotic prescription. CRP was higher among patients with a bacterial organism compared with those with a viral organism (median 18 mg/L, interquartile range [10-49] versus 10 mg/L [≤8-22], p = 0.003), with an area under the curve of 0.65 (95% CI 0.55-0.75). CONCLUSIONS Serious bacterial infections requiring antibiotics are an exception rather than the rule in the first line of care. CRP testing could assist in ruling out such cases in settings where diagnostic uncertainty is high and routine antibiotic prescription is common. The original CRP randomised controlled trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02758821.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Althaus
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
| | - Janjira Thaipadungpanit
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Rachel C Greer
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Myo Maung Maung Swe
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Myanmar-Oxford Clinical Research Unit (MOCRU), Medical Action Myanmar (MAM), Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Sabine Dittrich
- Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pimnara Peerawaranun
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Pieter W Smit
- Maasstad Ziekenhuis Hospital, Department of Medical Microbiology, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Public Health Laboratory (GGD), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tri Wangrangsimakul
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart Blacksell
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jonas M Winchell
- Division of Bacterial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Maureen H Diaz
- Division of Bacterial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Nicholas P J Day
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Frank Smithuis
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Myanmar-Oxford Clinical Research Unit (MOCRU), Medical Action Myanmar (MAM), Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Paul Turner
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Cambodia-Oxford Medical Research Unit (COMRU), Angkor Hospital for Children, Siem Reap, Cambodia
| | - Yoel Lubell
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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A proposal for distinguishing between bacterial and viral meningitis using genetic programming and decision trees. Soft comput 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00500-018-03729-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Viallon A, Botelho-Nevers E, Zeni F. Clinical decision rules for acute bacterial meningitis: current insights. Open Access Emerg Med 2016; 8:7-16. [PMID: 27307768 PMCID: PMC4886299 DOI: 10.2147/oaem.s69975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute community-acquired bacterial meningitis (BM) requires rapid diagnosis so that suitable treatment can be instituted within 60 minutes of admitting the patient. The cornerstone of diagnostic examination is lumbar puncture, which enables microbiological analysis and determination of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytochemical characteristics. However, microbiological testing is not sufficiently sensitive to rule out this diagnosis. With regard to the analysis of standard CSF cytochemical characteristics (polymorphonuclear count, CSF glucose and protein concentration, and CSF:serum glucose), this is often misleading. Indeed, the relatively imprecise nature of the cutoff values for these BM diagnosis markers can make their interpretation difficult. However, there are two markers that appear to be more efficient than the standard ones: CSF lactate and serum procalcitonin levels. Scores and predictive models are also available; however, they only define a clinical probability, and in addition, their use calls for prior validation on the population in which they are used. In this article, we review current methods of BM diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain Viallon
- Emergency Department, University Hospital, Saint-Etienne, France
| | | | - Fabrice Zeni
- Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital, Saint-Etienne, France
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Mengistu A, Gaeseb J, Uaaka G, Ndjavera C, Kambyambya K, Indongo L, Kalemeera F, Ntege C, Mabirizi D, Joshi MP, Sagwa E. Antimicrobial sensitivity patterns of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) isolates in Namibia: implications for empirical antibiotic treatment of meningitis. J Pharm Policy Pract 2013; 6:4. [PMID: 24764539 PMCID: PMC3987067 DOI: 10.1186/2052-3211-6-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2012] [Accepted: 04/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency associated with high mortality rates. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture is the "gold standard" for diagnosis of meningitis and it is important to establish the susceptibility of the causative microorganism to rationalize treatment. The Namibia Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs) recommends initiation of empirical antibiotic treatment in patients with signs and symptoms of meningitis after taking a CSF sample for culture and sensitivity. The objective of this study was to assess the antimicrobial sensitivity patterns of microorganisms isolated from CSF to antibiotics commonly used in the empirical treatment of suspected bacterial meningitis in Namibia. METHODS This was a cross-sectional descriptive study of routinely collected antibiotic susceptibility data from the Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP) database. Results of CSF culture and sensitivity from January 1, 2009 to May 31, 2012, from 33 state hospitals throughout Namibia were analysed. RESULTS The most common pathogens isolated were Streptococcus species, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus, and Escherichia coli. The common isolates from CSF showed high resistance (34.3% -73.5%) to penicillin. Over one third (34.3%) of Streptococcus were resistance to penicillin which was higher than 24.8% resistance in the United States. Meningococci were susceptible to several antimicrobial agents including penicillin. The sensitivity to cephalosporins remained high for Streptococcus, Neisseria, E. coli and Haemophilus. The highest percentage of resistance to cephalosporins was seen among ESBL K. pneumoniae (n = 7, 71%-100%), other Klebsiella species (n = 7, 28%-80%), and Staphylococcus (n = 36, 25%-40%). CONCLUSIONS The common organisms isolated from CSF were Streptococcus Pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus, and E. coli. All common organisms isolated from CSF showed high sensitivity to cephalosporins used in the empirical treatment of meningitis. The resistance of the common isolates to penicillin is high. Most ESBL K. pneumoniae were isolated from CSF samples drawn from neonates and were found to be resistant to the antibiotics recommended in the Namibia STGs. Based on the above findings, it is recommended to use a combination of aminoglycoside and third-generation cephalosporin to treat non-ESBL Klebsiella isolates. Carbapenems (e.g., meropenem) and piperacillin/tazobactam should be considered for treating severely ill patients with suspected ESBL Klebsiella infection. Namibia should have a national antimicrobial resistance surveillance system for early detection of antibiotics that may no longer be effective in treating meningitis and other life-threatening infections due to resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Francis Kalemeera
- Systems for Improved Access to Pharmaceuticals and Services, implemented by Management Sciences for Health, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Christopher Ntege
- Systems for Improved Access to Pharmaceuticals and Services, implemented by Management Sciences for Health, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - David Mabirizi
- Systems for Improved Access to Pharmaceuticals and Services, implemented by Management Sciences for Health, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Mohan P Joshi
- Systems for Improved Access to Pharmaceuticals and Services, implemented by Management Sciences for Health, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Evans Sagwa
- Systems for Improved Access to Pharmaceuticals and Services, implemented by Management Sciences for Health, Windhoek, Namibia
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Hage JE, Cunha BA. Are ESR/CRP ratios helpful in differentiating West Nile encephalitis from non-West Nile virus meningitis/encephalitis? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 45:652-4. [DOI: 10.3109/00365548.2013.768355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Nabulsi M, Hani A, Karam M. Impact of C-reactive protein test results on evidence-based decision-making in cases of bacterial infection. BMC Pediatr 2012; 12:140. [PMID: 22943554 PMCID: PMC3457842 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2431-12-140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2012] [Accepted: 08/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background C-reactive protein (CRP) is widely used to detect bacterial infection in children. We investigated the impact of CRP test results on decision-making and summarized the evidence base (EB) of CRP testing. Methods We collected information from the hospital records of 91 neonates with suspected sepsis and of 152 febrile children with suspected infection on the number of ordered CRP tests, the number of EB-CRP tests, and the impact of the test results on decision-making. CRP diagnostic accuracy studies focusing on pediatric infections were reviewed critically. The main outcomes were the proportion of CRP tests that were EB and the proportion of tests that affected decision-making. A secondary outcome was the overall one-year expenditure on CRP testing. Results The current EB for CRP testing in pediatric infections is weak and suggests that CRP is of low diagnostic value. Approximately 54.8% of tests performed for suspected neonatal sepsis and 28% of tests performed for other infections were EB; however, the results of only 12.9% of neonatal sepsis tests and of 29.9% of tests on children with other infections informed decision-making. The one-year overall cost for CRP testing and related health care was $26,715.9. Conclusions The routine ordering of CRP for children with infections is based on weak evidence. The impact of the CRP test results on decision-making is rather small, and CRP ordering may contribute to unnecessary health care expenditures. Better quality research is needed to definitively determine the diagnostic accuracy of CRP levels in children with infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Nabulsi
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
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VYSE A, WOLTER JM, CHEN J, NG T, SORIANO-GABARRO M. Meningococcal disease in Asia: an under-recognized public health burden. Epidemiol Infect 2011; 139:967-85. [PMID: 21492496 PMCID: PMC3105449 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268811000574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/09/2011] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
A literature search traced existing information on meningococcal disease in Asia. Reviewed data describing the epidemiology of meningococcal disease in Asia are incomplete, due in part to absence of surveillance in many countries, poor bacterial detection methods and social and healthcare barriers to disease reporting. This suggests that meningococcal disease in some Asian countries may be under-recognized, with a need to introduce/improve existing surveillance and case identification systems. Nevertheless, in some developing Asian countries, the disease burden may be significant. Serogroup A meningococcal epidemics are responsible for high morbidity and mortality in some countries and continue to be an ongoing threat, particularly in developing countries. There is an increasing role played by serogroups C, Y, and W-135 in invasive disease, indicating evolving meningococcal disease epidemiology in some countries. Multivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccines offer new opportunities in the region for reducing the meningococcal disease burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. VYSE
- GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals Group of Companies, Wavre, Belgium
| | | | - J. CHEN
- GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals Group of Companies, Wavre, Belgium
| | - T. NG
- GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals Group of Companies, Wavre, Belgium
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Viallon A, Desseigne N, Marjollet O, Birynczyk A, Belin M, Guyomarch S, Borg J, Pozetto B, Bertrand JC, Zeni F. Meningitis in adult patients with a negative direct cerebrospinal fluid examination: value of cytochemical markers for differential diagnosis. CRITICAL CARE : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE CRITICAL CARE FORUM 2011; 15:R136. [PMID: 21645387 PMCID: PMC3219005 DOI: 10.1186/cc10254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2010] [Revised: 03/14/2011] [Accepted: 06/06/2011] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The objective of this study was to determine the ability of various parameters commonly used for the diagnosis of acute meningitis to differentiate between bacterial and viral meningitis, in adult patients with a negative direct cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination. METHODS This was a prospective study, started in 1997, including all patients admitted to the emergency unit with acute meningitis and a negative direct CSF examination. Serum and CSF samples were taken immediately on admission. The patients were divided into two groups according to the type of meningitis: bacterial (BM; group I) or viral (VM; group II). The CSF parameters investigated were cytology, protein, glucose, and lactate; the serum parameters evaluated were C-reactive protein and procalcitonin. CSF/serum glucose and lactate ratios were also assessed. RESULTS Of the 254 patients with meningitis with a negative direct CSF examination, 35 had BM and 181, VM. The most highly discriminative parameters for the differential diagnosis of BM proved to be CSF lactate, with a sensitivity of 94%, a specificity of 92%, a negative predictive value of 99%, a positive predictive value of 82% at a diagnostic cut-off level of 3.8 mmol/L (area under the curve (AUC), 0.96; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.95 to 1), and serum procalcitonin, with a sensitivity of 95%, a specificity of 100%, a negative predictive value of 100%, and a positive predictive value of 97% at a diagnostic cut-off level of 0.28 ng/ml (AUC, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.99 to 1). CONCLUSIONS Serum procalcitonin and CSF lactate concentrations appear to be the most highly discriminative parameters for the differential diagnosis of BM and VM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain Viallon
- Emergency and Intensive Care Units, North Hospital, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint-Etienne, Saint-Etienne Cedex 2, France.
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Fuller DG, Duke T, Shann F, Curtis N. Antibiotic treatment for bacterial meningitis in children in developing countries. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2004; 23:233-53. [PMID: 14738571 DOI: 10.1179/027249303225007752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial meningitis causes 125,000 deaths each year in infants and young children and 96% of these occur in less developed countries where up to 50% of children with this disease die and 25-50% of survivors have neurological sequelae. Although 3rd-generation cephalosporins are optimal empirical therapy for bacterial meningitis, they are unaffordable in many developing countries. The majority of children worldwide are currently treated with cheaper alternatives. This paper reviews the challenges facing clinicians treating bacterial meningitis in developing countries, highlighting the problem of changing patterns of antibiotic resistance. In particular, it details the evidence for the use of chloramphenicol and 3rd-generation cephalosporins.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G Fuller
- Department of General Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
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