1
|
Milburn J, Suresh R, Doyle R, Jarvis JN. The diagnosis of central nervous system infections in resource-limited settings and the use of novel and molecular diagnostic platforms to improve diagnosis. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2024; 24:219-230. [PMID: 38369939 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2024.2317414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Central nervous system infections (CNSI) disproportionately affect individuals in low-resource settings where diagnosis is challenging; large proportions of patients never receive a confirmed microbiological diagnosis resulting in inadequate management and high mortality. The epidemiology of CNSI varies globally and conventional diagnostics deployed in resource-limited settings have significant limitations, with an urgent need for improved diagnostic strategies. AREAS COVERED This review describes molecular platforms and other novel diagnostics used in the diagnosis of CNSI that are applicable to resource-limited settings. An extensive literature search of Medline and PubMed was performed. The emphasis is on investigations targeting infections of relevance to resource-limited settings either due to variation in regional CNSI epidemiology or due to increased prevalence in patients with immunosuppression. This includes commercially available multiplex PCR platforms, mycobacterial PCR platforms, and rapid diagnostics tests. To offer a framework for the optimal implementation in clinical settings, existing evidence highlighting the advantages and limitations of available platforms is reviewed. EXPERT OPINION The implementation of molecular platforms and other novel diagnostics has the potential to transform CNSI diagnosis in resource-limited settings, with several examples of successful rollout of novel diagnostics such as Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra and cryptococcal antigen testing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James Milburn
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
- Department of Clinical Research, Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Rachita Suresh
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Ronan Doyle
- Department of Clinical Research, Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Joseph N Jarvis
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
- Department of Clinical Research, Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lin HL, Chen HM, Lin CY, Chen CC. Accuracy of antigen tests for meningococcal meningitis in cerebrospinal fluid: A diagnostic meta-analysis. Trop Med Int Health 2023; 28:797-805. [PMID: 37641441 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Neisseria meningitidis is one of the major pathogens of meningitis in children worldwide and causes invasive meningococcal disease (IMD), which is a critical illness that mainly presents as meningitis and/or septicemia in children. Identification of N. meningitidis in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is the gold standard for the diagnosis of meningococcal meningitis, but antigen tests have advantages such as timely results, relatively low cost, and convenience. Yet, the diagnostic accuracy of antigen tests remains uncertain. Therefore, the aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of antigen tests for N. meningitidis in CSF. METHODS We searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases for studies evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of antigen tests for N. meningitidis in CSF. We included studies that provided sufficient data to construct a 2 × 2 table on a per-sample basis. To determine the overall sensitivity and specificity of the antigen tests, we used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as the reference standard and employed the hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic model. RESULTS Nine studies with 4533 CSF samples were included. The meta-analysis yielded a pooled sensitivity of 91.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 80.0%-100.0%) and a pooled specificity of 93.8% (95% CI: 83.9%-100.0%). A subgroup analysis of 2 studies that reported the outcomes of MeningoSpeed yielded a pooled sensitivity of 93.4% (95% CI: 90.0%-95.8%) and a pooled specificity of 91.9% (95% CI: 88.6%-94.4%). Antigen testing for the N. meningitidis serogroup X had a pooled sensitivity of 92.4% (95% CI: 85.2%-96.2%) and a pooled specificity of 99.2% (95% CI: 78.7%-100.0%). CONCLUSIONS The studied antigen tests had high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of meningococcal meningitis in CSF specimens. Antigen testing could serve as an accurate diagnostic method for assessing patients who have a suspected N. meningitidis infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hsiu-Ling Lin
- Department of Nursing, Landseed International Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Mei Chen
- Department of Nursing, Landseed International Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Yen Lin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Chieh Chen
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Yekani M, Memar MY. Immunologic biomarkers for bacterial meningitis. Clin Chim Acta 2023; 548:117470. [PMID: 37419301 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2023.117470] [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: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
Meningitis is defined as the inflammation of the meninges that is most often caused by various bacterial and viral pathogens, and is associated with high rates of mortality and morbidity. Early detection of bacterial meningitis is essential to appropriate antibiotic therapy. Alterations in immunologic biomarkers levels have been considered the diagnostic approach in medical laboratories for the identifying of infections. The early increasing immunologic mediators such as cytokines and acute phase proteins (APPs) during bacterial meningitis have made they significant indicators for laboratory diagnosis. Immunology biomarkers showed wide variable sensitivity and specificity values that influenced by different reference values, selected a certain cutoff point, methods of detection, patient characterization and inclusion criteria, as well as etiology of meningitis and time of CSF or blood specimens' collection. This study provides an overview of different immunologic biomarkers as diagnostic markers for the identification of bacterial meningitis and their efficiencies in the differentiating of bacterial from viral meningitis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mina Yekani
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran; Student Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Yousef Memar
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
D'Aleo F, Bonanno R, Bonofiglio M. New methods in meningitis diagnosis. MICROBIOLOGIA MEDICA 2021. [DOI: 10.4081/mm.2021.10235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Meningitis remains a worldwide problem and Central nervous system (CNS) infections are associated with devastating sequelae, including cognitive deficits, vision and hearing impairment, motor and sensory deficits and epilepsy in over one-half of survivors. Rapid diagnosis of meningitis is essential to improve chances at survival and minimize unnecessary healthcare costs related to isolation procedures and empiric treatment. Multiplex molecular assays are an attractive option for the simultaneous detection of several microbial targets. Currently, several assays are marketed. The aim of our review is to comprehensively evaluate the molecular available systems of using a new multiplex PCR panel in determining the microbiologic etiologies of meningitis.
Collapse
|
5
|
van de Beek D, Brouwer MC, Koedel U, Wall EC. Community-acquired bacterial meningitis. Lancet 2021; 398:1171-1183. [PMID: 34303412 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(21)00883-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Progress has been made in the prevention and treatment of community-acquired bacterial meningitis during the past three decades but the burden of the disease remains high globally. Conjugate vaccines against the three most common causative pathogens (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae) have reduced the incidence of disease, but with the replacement by non-vaccine pneumococcal serotypes and the emergence of bacterial strains with reduced susceptibility to antimicrobial treatment, meningitis continues to pose a major health challenge worldwide. In patients presenting with bacterial meningitis, typical clinical characteristics (such as the classic triad of neck stiffness, fever, and an altered mental status) might be absent and cerebrospinal fluid examination for biochemistry, microscopy, culture, and PCR to identify bacterial DNA are essential for the diagnosis. Multiplex PCR point-of-care panels in cerebrospinal fluid show promise in accelerating the diagnosis, but diagnostic accuracy studies to justify routine implementation are scarce and randomised, controlled studies are absent. Early administration of antimicrobial treatment (within 1 hour of presentation) improves outcomes and needs to be adjusted according to local emergence of drug resistance. Adjunctive dexamethasone treatment has proven efficacy beyond the neonatal age but only in patients from high-income countries. Further progress can be expected from implementing preventive measures, especially the development of new vaccines, implementation of hospital protocols aimed at early treatment, and new treatments targeting checkpoints of the inflammatory cascade.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diederik van de Beek
- Department of Neurology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Meibergdreef, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
| | - Matthijs C Brouwer
- Department of Neurology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Meibergdreef, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Uwe Koedel
- Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Emma C Wall
- Research Department of Infection, University College London, London, UK; Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Field Evaluation of the Performance of Two Rapid Diagnostic Tests for Meningitis in Niger and Burkina Faso. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9040832. [PMID: 33919828 PMCID: PMC8070799 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9040832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
New lateral flow tests for the diagnosis of Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) (serogroups A, C, W, X, and Y), MeningoSpeed, and Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp), PneumoSpeed, developed to support rapid outbreak detection in Africa, have shown good performance under laboratory conditions. We conducted an independent evaluation of both tests under field conditions in Burkina Faso and Niger, in 2018–2019. The tests were performed in the cerebrospinal fluid of suspected meningitis cases from health centers in alert districts and compared to reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction tests performed at national reference laboratories (NRLs). Health staff were interviewed about feasibility. A total of 327 cases were tested at the NRLs, with 26% confirmed Nm (NmC 63% and NmX 37%) and 8% Sp. Sensitivity and specificity were, respectively, 95% (95% CI: 89–99) and 90% (95% CI: 86–94) for Nm and 92% (95% CI: 75–99) and 99% (95% CI: 97–100) for Sp. Positive and negative predictive values were, respectively, 77% (95% CI: 68–85) and 98% (95% CI: 95–100) for Nm and 86% (95% CI: 67–96) and 99% (95% CI: 98–100) for Sp. Concordance showed 82% agreement for Nm and 97% for Sp. Interviewed staff evaluated the tests as easy to use and to interpret and were confident in their readings. Results suggest overall good performance of both tests and potential usefulness in meningitis outbreak detection.
Collapse
|
7
|
Diallo K, Feteh VF, Ibe L, Antonio M, Caugant DA, du Plessis M, Deghmane AE, Feavers IM, Fernandez K, Fox LM, Rodrigues CMC, Ronveaux O, Taha MK, Wang X, Brueggemann AB, Maiden MCJ, Harrison OB. Molecular diagnostic assays for the detection of common bacterial meningitis pathogens: A narrative review. EBioMedicine 2021; 65:103274. [PMID: 33721818 PMCID: PMC7957090 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial meningitis is a major global cause of morbidity and mortality. Rapid identification of the aetiological agent of meningitis is essential for clinical and public health management and disease prevention given the wide range of pathogens that cause the clinical syndrome and the availability of vaccines that protect against some, but not all, of these. Since microbiological culture is complex, slow, and often impacted by prior antimicrobial treatment of the patient, molecular diagnostic assays have been developed for bacterial detection. Distinguishing between meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus), Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), Haemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus agalactiae and identifying their polysaccharide capsules is especially important. Here, we review methods used in the identification of these bacteria, providing an up-to-date account of available assays, allowing clinicians and diagnostic laboratories to make informed decisions about which assays to use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kanny Diallo
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3SY, United Kingdom; Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
| | - Vitalis F Feteh
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3SY, United Kingdom; Nuffield Department of Population Health, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, United Kingdom
| | - Lilian Ibe
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3SY, United Kingdom; Nuffield Department of Population Health, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Antonio
- WHO Collaborating Centre for New Vaccines Surveillance, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Atlantic Boulevard, Fajara, PO Box 273, Banjul, Gambia; Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dominique A Caugant
- WHO Collaborating Center for Reference and Research on Meningococci, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo N-0213, Norway
| | - Mignon du Plessis
- A division of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | - Ian M Feavers
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3SY, United Kingdom
| | | | - LeAnne M Fox
- National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Bacterial Diseases, Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, United States
| | - Charlene M C Rodrigues
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3SY, United Kingdom; Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Xin Wang
- National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Bacterial Diseases, Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, United States
| | - Angela B Brueggemann
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, United Kingdom
| | - Martin C J Maiden
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3SY, United Kingdom
| | - Odile B Harrison
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3SY, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Next generation rapid diagnostic tests for meningitis diagnosis. J Infect 2020; 81:712-718. [PMID: 32888978 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2020.08.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are increasingly recognized as valuable, transformative tools for the diagnosis of infectious diseases. Although there are a variety of meningitis RDTs currently available, certain product features restrict their use to specific levels of care and settings. For this reason, the development of meningitis RDTs for use at all levels of care, including those in low-resource settings, was included in the "Defeating Meningitis by 2030" roadmap. Here we address the limitations of available meningitis RDTs and present test options and specifications to consider when developing the next generation of meningitis RDTs.
Collapse
|