Meningitis and encephalitis management in the ICU

Epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance patterns of bacterial meningitis among hospitalized patients at a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia: a six-year retrospective study

INTRODUCTION

Bacterial meningitis poses significant medical challenges due to its acute inflammatory nature and potential for severe neurological complications, emphasizing the need for prompt diagnosis and treatment. Limited data exists on its epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance trends among hospitalized patients in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to investigate these factors at a tertiary care hospital over six years.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on cerebrospinal fluid samples results from 222 bacterial meningitis cases among hospitalized patients between 2018 and 2023. Demographic, clinical, microbiological data, and antibiotic susceptibility patterns were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (43%) was the predominant pathogen isolated. Neonates (16%) and children (47%) were most affected population. Nosocomial meningitis accounted for 92% of cases, mainly in the intensive care settings (50.45%). Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase was the leading resistance pattern (12.2%). Seasonal variation was observed, with a peak incidence in October-November.

CONCLUSION

The study highlights the substantial burden of bacterial meningitis among hospitalized patients, especially among high-risk groups. Emerging antimicrobial resistance emphasizes the need for optimized surveillance and stewardship. Future prospective research employing molecular techniques across multiple centers in the country is warranted to enhance understanding and guide public health strategies in Saudi Arabia.

Characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients with infectious encephalitis requiring intensive care: A prospective multicentre observational study

PURPOSE

Infectious encephalitis (IE) is a severe disease which requires intensive care unit (ICU) admission in up to 50% of cases. We aimed to describe characteristics, management and outcomes of IE patients who required ICU admission.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ancillary study focusing on patients with ICU admission within the ENCEIF cohort, a French prospective observational multicentre study. The primary criteria for outcome was the functional status at hospital discharge, categorized using the Glasgow outcome scale (GOS). Logistic regression model was used to identify risk factors for poor outcome, defined as a GOS ≤ 3.

RESULTS

We enrolled 198 ICU patients with IE. HSV was the primary cause (n = 72, 36% of all IE, 53% of IE with microbiological documentation). Fifty-two patients (26%) had poor outcome at hospital discharge, including 22 deaths (11%). Immunodeficiency, supratentorial focal signs on admission, lower cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) white cells count (<75/mm3), abnormal brain imaging, and time from symptoms onset to acyclovir start >2 days were independent predictors of poor outcome.

CONCLUSION

HSV is the primary cause of IE requiring ICU admission. IE patients admitted in ICU have a poor prognosis with 11% of in-hospital mortality and 15% of severe disabilities in survivors at discharge.

Bacterial meningitis in adults: a retrospective study among 148 patients in an 8-year period in a university hospital, Finland

BACKGROUND

Bacterial meningitis (BM) causes significant morbidity and mortality. We investigated predisposing factors, clinical characteristics, spectrum of etiological bacteria, and clinical outcome of community-acquired and nosocomial BM.

METHODS

In this retrospective study we analyzed data of 148 adults (age > 16 years) with BM treated in Turku University Hospital, Southwestern Finland, from 2011 to 2018. Besides culture- or polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive cases we also included culture-negative cases with laboratory parameters strongly suggestive of BM and those with meningitis-related findings in imaging. We used Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score 1-4 to determine unfavorable outcome.

RESULTS

The median age of patients was 57 years and 48.6% were male. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture for bacteria showed positivity in 50 (33.8%) cases, although pre-diagnostic antibiotic use was frequent (85, 57.4%). The most common pathogens in CSF culture were Streptococcus pneumoniae (11, 7.4%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (7, 4.7%), Staphylococcus aureus (6, 4.1%) and Neisseria meningitidis (6, 4.1%). Thirty-nine patients (26.4%) presented with the triad of fever, headache, and neck stiffness. A neurosurgical procedure or an acute cerebral incident prior BM was recorded in 74 patients (50%). Most of the patients had nosocomial BM (82, 55.4%) and the rest (66, 44.6%) community-acquired BM. Ceftriaxone and vancomycin were the most used antibiotics. Causative pathogens had resistances against the following antibiotics: cefuroxime with a frequency of 6.8%, ampicillin (6.1%), and tetracycline (6.1%). The case fatality rate was 8.8% and the additional likelihood of unfavorable outcome 40.5%. Headache, decreased general condition, head computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), hypertension, altered mental status, confusion, operative treatment, neurological symptoms, pre-diagnostic antibiotic use and oral antibiotics on discharge were associated with unfavorable outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

The number of cases with nosocomial BM was surprisingly high and should be further investigated. The usage of pre-diagnostic antibiotics was also quite high. Headache was associated with unfavorable outcome. The frequency of unfavorable outcome of BM was 40.5%, although mortality in our patients was lower than in most previous studies.

Nosocomial meningitis in intensive care: a 10-year retrospective study and literature review

Background

Nosocomial meningitis is a medical emergency that requires early diagnosis, prompt initiation of therapy, and frequent admission to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted in adult patients diagnosed with nosocomial meningitis who required admission to the ICU between April 2010 and March 2020. Meningitis/ventriculitis and intracranial infection were defined according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

Results

An incidence of 0.75% of nosocomial meningitis was observed among 70 patients. The mean patient age was 59 years and 34% were ≥65 years. Twenty-two percent of patients were in an immunocompromised state. A clear predisposing factor for nosocomial meningitis (traumatic brain injury, basal skull fracture, brain hemorrhage, central nervous system [CNS] invasive procedure or device) was present in 93% of patients. Fever was the most frequent clinical feature. A microbiological agent was identified in 30% of cases, of which 27% were bacteria, with a predominance of Gram-negative over Gram-positive. Complications developed in 47% of cases, 24% of patients were discharged with a Glasgow coma scale <14, and 37% died. There were no clear clinical predictors of complications. Advanced age (≥65 years old) and the presence of complications were associated with higher hospital mortality.

Conclusions

Nosocomial meningitis in critical care has a low incidence rate but high mortality and morbidity. In critical care patients with CNS-related risk factors, a high level of suspicion for meningitis is warranted, but diagnosis can be hindered by several confounding factors.

Invasive neuromonitoring and neurological intensive care unit management in life-threatening central nervous system infections

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Patients with infectious diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) commonly require treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU). In a subset of patients with a life-threatening course, a more aggressive and invasive management is required. Treatment relies on the expertise of the intensivists as most recommendations are currently not based on a high level of evidence.

RECENT FINDINGS

Published data suggest that an invasive brain-focused management should be considered in life-threatening CNS infections. Brain resuscitation by adequate control of intracranial pressure (ICP) and optimization of cerebral perfusion, oxygen and glucose delivery supports the idea of personalized medicine. Recent advances in monitoring techniques help to guide clinicians to improve neurocritical care management in these patients with severe disease. Robust data on the long-term effect of decompressive craniectomy and targeted temperature management are lacking, however, these interventions can be life-saving in individual patients in the setting of a potentially fatal situation such as refractory elevated ICP.

SUMMARY

Advances in the neurocritical care management and progress in monitoring techniques in specialized neuro-ICUs may help to preserve brain function and prevent a deleterious cascade of secondary brain damage in life-threatening CNS infections.

Severe infections in neurocritical care

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

We have highlighted the recent advances in infection in neurocritical care.

RECENT FINDINGS

Central nervous system (CNS) infections, including meningitis, encephalitis and pyogenic brain infections represent a significant cause of ICU admissions. We underwent an extensive review of the literature over the last several years in order to summarize the most important points in the diagnosis and treatment of severe infections in neurocritical care.

SUMMARY

Acute brain injury triggers an inflammatory response that involves a complex interaction between innate and adaptive immunity, and there are several factors that can be implicated, such as age, genetic predisposition, the degree and mechanism of the injury, systemic and secondary injury and therapeutic interventions. Neuroinflammation is a major contributor to secondary injury. The frequent and challenging presence of fever is a common denominator amongst all neurocritical care patients.