Diagnosing enterovirus meningitis via blood transcriptomics: an alternative for lumbar puncture?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Meningitis can be caused by several viruses and bacteria. Identifying the causative pathogen as quickly as possible is crucial to initiate the most optimal therapy, as acute bacterial meningitis is associated with a significant morbidity and mortality. Bacterial meningitis requires antibiotics, as opposed to enteroviral meningitis, which only requires supportive therapy. Clinical presentation is usually not sufficient to differentiate between viral and bacterial meningitis, thereby necessitating cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis by PCR and/or time-consuming bacterial cultures. However, collecting CSF in children is not always feasible and a rather invasive procedure.

Methods

In 12 Belgian hospitals, we obtained acute blood samples from children with signs of meni

SUBMITTER: Bartholomeus E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6708255 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature