Analysis of Patients with Central Nervous System Infection at Our Clinic: Five-year Results
Journal Title: Mediterranean Journal of Infection, Microbes and Antimicrobials - Year 2019, Vol 8, Issue 1
Abstract
Introduction: This study aimed to determine the epidemiological data, clinical and laboratory findings, morbidity, and mortality of patients with central nervous system infection (CNSI). Materials and Methods: Patients who were followed-up in our clinic with a diagnosis of CNSI between 2013 and 2018 were reviewed retrospectively. Results: A total of 55 patients with a mean age of 46±19 (19-90) years were included in the study; 58.1% of the patients were male. Acute bacterial meningitis was observed in 54.5% of the patients, aseptic meningitis in 23.6%, tuberculous meningitis in 5.5%, and meningoencephalitis in 16.4% (88.8% of these patients were defined as highly probable encephalitis). The most common symptom was fever. The prevalence of the classical triad (fever, neck stiffness, and change in mental status) in patients with acute bacterial meningitis was 36.6%. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common causative agent identified in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood culture. Cerebrospinal fluid acid-fast bacillus positivity in tuberculous meningitis and CSF herpes simplex virus polymerase chain reaction-1 positivity in meningoencephalitis was 33.3%. The complication rate was 18.1%. The only mortality was in one patient with acute bacterial meningitis. Conclusion: According to the results of our study, fever, change in mental status, headache, and signs of meningeal irritation are essential in predicting CNSI. However, these indicators rarely presented altogether in our patients. Therefore, patients who do not exhibit the classical triad but are suspected of CNSI should undergo lumbar puncture for CSF analysis and antimicrobial treatment should be started as soon as possible. The low mortality rate among our patients once again demonstrates the importance of this approach.
Authors and Affiliations
Şafak Özer BALIN, Ayşe SAĞMAK TARTAR, Kutbeddin DEMİRDAĞ, Ayhan AKBULUT
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP689274
- DOI 10.4274/mjima.galenos.2019.2019.13
- Views 130
- Downloads 0
Rapid Differentiation of Candida albicans from Non-albicans Species by Germ Tube Test Directly From Blood Culture Bottles
Introduction: It is important to identify infection-causing yeasts rapidly and perform antifungal susceptibility tests in order to determine the treatment to be applied. The aim of this study was to use direct germ tube...
Exploration of Erythromycin Ribosomal Methylase Genotypes Among D+ Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains in Sokoto, Nigeria
Introduction: Antibiotics are lifesaving compounds that have been successful for decades. However, many pathogenic bacteria are becoming resistant to them. Cross-resistance of the macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (M...
Osteoarticular Candida Infection: Report of Three Cases and Literature Review of 44 Patients
Fungal infections in the bones and joints are rare. Candida spp. osteomyelitis is also a very rare entity. The most common pathogen is Candida albicans, but an increase in the incidence of non-albicans Candida osteomyeli...
Pooled Analysis of 86 Published Spinal Hydatid Cyst Cases From Turkey
Introduction: Spinal hydatid cyst (SHC) is a difficult to treat parasitic infectious disease with high risk of recurrence. Similar with HC the visceral organs, there are no standard treatment protocols for SHC. The aim o...
Evaluation of the Side Effects of Antiretroviral Treatment
Introduction: The frequency of antiretroviral therapy (ART)-induced side effects varies in HIV-infected patients. In this study, we aimed to compare drug-induced side effects developing in patients receiving different AR...