Chronic Meningitis

Clinical Reasoning: A 24-Year-Old Man With Gait Impairment, Hearing Loss, and Recurrent Fever

We present a case study of a 24-year-old man who reported mild balance and walking difficulties for 2 years. He had a history of recurrent fever, skin lesions, headache, and elbow pain, but most of these events resolved spontaneously. There was no significant family history. On examination, we observed frontal bossing, sensorineural hearing loss, and gait ataxia. This case underscores the significance of identifying clinical indicators in patients with neurologic symptoms, particularly recurrent fever, to establish a precise and thorough differential diagnosis.

Chronic meningitis in adults: a comparison between neurotuberculosis and neurobrucellosis

BACKGROUND

In regions endemic for tuberculosis and brucellosis, distinguishing between tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and brucella meningitis (BM) poses a substantial challenge. This study investigates the clinical and paraclinical characteristics of patients with TBM and BM.

METHODS

Adult patients diagnosed with either TBM or BM who were admitted to two referral hospitals between March 2015 and October 2022, were included, and the characteristics of the patients were analyzed.

RESULTS

Seventy patients formed the study group, 28 with TBM and 42 with BM, were included. TBM patients had a 2.06-fold (95% CI: 1.26 to 3.37, P-value: 0.003) higher risk of altered consciousness and a 4.80-fold (95% CI: 1.98 to 11.61, P-value: < 0.001) higher risk of extra-neural involvement as compared to BM patients. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed a significantly higher percentage of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in TBM compared to BM (Standardized mean difference: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.18 to 1.20, P-value: 0.008). Neuroimaging findings indicated higher risks of hydrocephalus (P-value: 0.002), infarction (P-value: 0.029), and meningeal enhancement (P-value: 0.012) in TBM compared to BM. Moreover, TBM patients had a 67% (95% CI: 21% to 131%, P-value:0.002) longer median length of hospital stay and a significantly higher risk of unfavorable outcomes (Risk ratio: 6.96, 95% CI: 2.65 to 18.26, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study emphasizes that TBM patients displayed increased frequencies of altered consciousness, PMN dominance in CSF, extra-neural involvement, hydrocephalus, meningeal enhancement, and brain infarction. The findings emphasize the diagnostic difficulties and underscore the importance of cautious differentiation between these two conditions to guide appropriate treatment strategies.

Diagnostic value of cerebrospinal fluid Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin for differentiation of bacterial meningitis from tuberculous meningitis or cryptococcal meningitis: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The early differential diagnosis between bacterial meningitis (BM) and tuberculous meningitis (TBM) or cryptococcal meningitis (CM) remains a significant clinical challenge. Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) has been reported as a novel inflammatory biomarker in the early stages of infection. This study aimed to investigate whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) NGAL can serve as a potential biomarker for distinguishing between BM and TBM or CM.

METHODS

We prospectively enrolled the patients with suspected CNS infections at admission and divided them into three case groups: BM (n = 67), TBM (n = 55), CM (n = 51), and an age- and sex-matched hospitalized control (HC, n = 58). Detected the CSF NGAL and assessed its diagnostic accuracy in distinguishing between BM and TBM or CM. Additionally, longitudinally measured the CSF NGAL levels in patients with BM to evaluate its potential as a monitoring tool for antibacterial treatment.

RESULTS

The concentration of CSF NGAL in BM was significantly higher than in TBM, CM, and HC (all P < 0.05), while the serum NGAL did not show significant differences among the three case groups. The ROC analysis demonstrated that CSF NGAL presented a good diagnostic performance with an AUC of 0.834 (0.770-0.886) and at the optimal cutoff value of 74.27 ng/mL with 70.15% sensitivity and 77.36% specificity for discriminating BM with TBM and CM. Additionally, the CSF NGAL in the convalescent period of BM was significantly lower than in the acute period (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

CSF NGAL may serve as a potential biomarker for distinguishing between acute BM and TBM or CM. Additionally, it holds clinical significance in monitoring the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy for BM.

Two Insects, Two Bites, One Patient: A Lyme Disease and Jamestown Canyon Co-infection

Lyme disease (LD) is the most common tick-borne illness across the United States, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and transmitted to humans by the bite of infected Ixodes ticks. Jamestown Canyon Virus (JCV) is an emerging mosquito-borne pathogen found mostly in the upper Midwest and Northeastern United States. Co-infection between these two pathogens has not been previously reported since it would require the host to be bitten by the two infected vectors at the same time. We report a 36-year-old man who presented with erythema migrans and meningitis. While erythema migrans is a pathognomonic sign of early localized Lyme disease, Lyme meningitis does not occur in this stage but in the early disseminated stage. Furthermore, CSF tests were not supportive of neuroborreliosis, and the patient was ultimately diagnosed with JCV meningitis. We review JCV infection, LD, and this first reported co-infection to illustrate the complex interaction between different vectors and pathogens and to emphasize the importance of considering co-infection in people who live in vector-endemic areas.

Viral meningitis and encephalitis: an update

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The most common infectious etiologies of meningitis and encephalitis are viruses. In this review, we will discuss current epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the most common causes of viral meningitis and encephalitis worldwide.

RECENT FINDINGS

Viral meningitis and encephalitis are increasingly diagnosed as molecular diagnostic techniques and serologies have become more readily available worldwide but recent progress in novel antiviral therapies remains limited. Emerging and re-emerging viruses that have caused endemic or worldwide outbreaks or epidemics are arboviruses (e.g., West Nile virus, Japanese encephalitis, Tick borne encephalitis, Dengue, Zika, Toscana), enteroviruses (e.g., Enterovirus 71, Enterovirus D68), Parechoviruses, respiratory viruses [e.g., severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), influenza, metapneumoviruses, measles, mumps], and herpes viruses [e.g., herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 (HSV-1), HSV-2, human herpes (HV) 6, varicella zoster virus (VZV)]. Future efforts should concentrate in increasing availability for those viruses with effective vaccination [e.g., Japanese encephalitis, Tick borne encephalitis, varicella zoster viruses, SARS-CoV-2, influenza], prompt initiation of those with encephalitis with treatable viruses (e.g., HSV-1, VZV), increasing the diagnostic yield by using novel techniques such as metagenomic sequencing and avoiding unnecessary antibiotics in those with viral meningitis or encephalitis.

SUMMARY

We review the current epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of the common causative agents of viral meningitis and encephalitis worldwide.

Clinical Reasoning: A Teenager With Chronic Meningitis-Does Occam's Razor Apply?

A 14-year-old girl presented with subacute onset headache, fever, and vomiting and was managed initially with antibiotics for suspected bacterial meningitis. Her symptoms further evolved over the next few weeks with systemic signs and symptoms favoring chronic meningitis with raised intracranial pressure. After the etiologic workup was unrevealing, she was started on empirical antituberculous therapy. After a period of partial improvement, symptoms recurred with a new-onset focal seizure. Her imaging findings evolved from features suggestive of focal leptomeningitis to multifocal heterogeneous enhancing cortical and subcortical lesions with hemorrhagic foci, leading to brain biopsy that confirmed diagnosis. Our case highlights the utility of diagnostic biopsy in patients with "chronic meningitis" in uncertain cases rather than confining the approach to the law of parsimony. The decision to initiate empirical therapy in chronic meningitis should be considered on a case-by-case basis and take into account factors, such as clinical examination findings, immune status, recent exposures, and potential risks of treatment. Atypical MRI features should lower the threshold for meningocortical biopsy when indicated.

Diagnostic and therapeutic approach to chronic meningitis in Brazil: a narrative review

BACKGROUND

Chronic meningitis (CM) is characterized by neurological symptoms associated with the evidence of cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis lasting > 4 weeks. Studies on the management of CM in Brazil are scarce.

OBJECTIVE

To critically review the literature on CM and propose a rational approach in the Brazilian scenario.

METHODS

Narrative literature review discussing the epidemiology, clinical evaluation, basic and advanced diagnostic testing, and empirical and targeted therapy for the most relevant causes of CM. The present review was contextualized with the local experience of the authors. In addition, we propose an algorithm for the management of CM in Brazil.

RESULTS

In Brazil, tuberculosis and cryptococcosis are endemic and should always be considered in CM patients. In addition to these diseases, neurosyphilis and other endemic conditions should be included in the differential diagnosis, including neurocysticercosis, Baggio-Yoshinari syndrome, and endemic mycosis. After infectious etiologies, meningeal carcinomatosis and autoimmune diseases should be considered. Unbiased and targeted methods should be used based on availability and clinical and epidemiological data.

CONCLUSION

We propose a rational approach to CM in Brazil, considering the epidemiological scenario, systematizing the etiological investigation, and evaluating the timely use of empirical therapies.

Meningeal Sporotrichosis Due to Sporothrix brasiliensis: A 21-Year Cohort Study from a Brazilian Reference Center

Meningeal sporotrichosis is rare and occurs predominantly in immunosuppressed individuals. This retrospective study explored clinical and laboratory characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of patients with disseminated sporotrichosis who underwent lumbar puncture (LP) at a Brazilian reference center from 1999 to 2020. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression models were used to estimate overall survival and hazard ratios. Among 57 enrolled patients, 17 had meningitis. Fifteen (88.2%) had HIV infection, and in 6 of them, neurological manifestations occurred because of the immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). The most frequent symptom was headache (88.2%). Meningeal symptoms at first LP were absent in 7/17 (41.2%) patients. Sporothrix was diagnosed in cerebrospinal fluid either by culture or by polymerase chain reaction in seven and four patients, respectively. All but one patient received prolonged courses of amphotericin B formulations, and seven received posaconazole, but relapses were frequent. Lethality among patients with meningitis was 64.7%, with a higher chance of death compared to those without meningitis (HR = 3.87; IC95% = 1.23;12.17). Meningeal sporotrichosis occurs mostly in people with HIV and can be associated with IRIS. Screening LP is indicated in patients with disseminated disease despite the absence of neurological complaints. Meningitis is associated with poor prognosis, and better treatment strategies are needed.

Candida dubliniensis chronic meningitis in an immunocompetent patient: Case report and literature review

Chronic meningitis due to Candida species is a rare presentation generally associated with immunocompromise. We present a case of chronic meningitis due to Candida dubliniensis in an immunocompetent systemically well man who presented with 32 months of headache and visual changes. This is the fourth reported case in an immunocompetent patient. Injecting drug use was identified as a risk factor in all cases which presented similarly, with prolonged headache and papilloedema. A significant delay to diagnosis is common to all the reported cases. Candidal chronic meningitis in immunocompetent patients may be underdiagnosed due to lack recognition of risk factors, timely cerebrospinal fluid sampling and appropriate culture.

The leptomeninges as a critical organ for normal CNS development and function: First patient and public involved systematic review of arachnoiditis (chronic meningitis)

BACKGROUND & IMPORTANCE

This patient and public-involved systematic review originally focused on arachnoiditis, a supposedly rare "iatrogenic chronic meningitis" causing permanent neurologic damage and intractable pain. We sought to prove disease existence, causation, symptoms, and inform future directions. After 63 terms for the same pathology were found, the study was renamed Diseases of the Leptomeninges (DLMs). We present results that nullify traditional clinical thinking about DLMs, answer study questions, and create a unified path forward.

METHODS

The prospective PRISMA protocol is published at Arcsology.org. We used four platforms, 10 sources, extraction software, and critical review with ≥2 researchers at each phase. All human sources to 12/6/2020 were eligible for qualitative synthesis utilizing R. Weekly updates since cutoff strengthen conclusions.

RESULTS

Included were 887/14286 sources containing 12721 DLMs patients. Pathology involves the subarachnoid space (SAS) and pia. DLMs occurred in all countries as a contributor to the top 10 causes of disability-adjusted life years lost, with communicable diseases (CDs) predominating. In the USA, the ratio of CDs to iatrogenic causes is 2.4:1, contradicting arachnoiditis literature. Spinal fusion surgery comprised 54.7% of the iatrogenic category, with rhBMP-2 resulting in 2.4x more DLMs than no use (p<0.0001). Spinal injections and neuraxial anesthesia procedures cause 1.1%, and 0.2% permanent DLMs, respectively. Syringomyelia, hydrocephalus, and arachnoid cysts are complications caused by blocked CSF flow. CNS neuron death occurs due to insufficient arterial supply from compromised vasculature and nerves traversing the SAS. Contrast MRI is currently the diagnostic test of choice. Lack of radiologist recognition is problematic.

DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION

DLMs are common. The LM clinically functions as an organ with critical CNS-sustaining roles involving the SAS-pia structure, enclosed cells, lymphatics, and biologic pathways. Cases involve all specialties. Causes are numerous, symptoms predictable, and outcomes dependent on time to treatment and extent of residual SAS damage. An international disease classification and possible treatment trials are proposed.

Meningoencephalitis caused by Fusarium proliferatum: an unusual case

Meningoencephalitis can be a diagnostic dilemma and one of its etiology are infectious causes including fungal agents. Fusarium species have attracted much attention as one of the invasive fungal infections. Major clinical manifestations of infections due to Fusarium spp. are broad such as keratitis, endophthalmitis, sino-pulmonary and central nervous system (CNS) infections. However, CNS fusariosis is rare and often happens due to hematogenous dissemination from other sites. Herein, we describe an unusual case of meningoencephalitis caused by Fusarium proliferatum, in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.