Real-time metagenomics-based diagnosis of community-acquired meningitis: A prospective series, southern France.

Background: Point-Of-Care (POC) diagnosis of life-threatening community-acquired meningitis currently relies on multiplexed RT-PCR assays, that lack genotyping and antibiotic susceptibility profiling. We assessed the usefulness of real-time metagenomics (RTM) directly applied to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for the identification, typing and susceptibility profiling of pathogens responsible for community-acquired meningitis.

Methods: A series of 52 CSF samples from patients suspected of having community-acquired meningitis, were investigated at POC by direct RTM in parallel to routine real-time multiplex PCR (RT-PCR) and bacterial culture, for the detection of pathogens.

Childhood meningitis in rural Gambia: 10 years of population-based surveillance.

Background: The introduction in many countries of conjugate vaccines against Haemophilus influenzae type b, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Neisseria meningitidis has led to significant reductions in acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) in children. However, recent population-based data on ABM in sub-Saharan Africa are limited.

Methods: Population-based surveillance for meningitis was carried out in a rural area of The Gambia under demographic surveillance from 2008 to 2017, using standardised criteria for referral, diagnosis and investigation.

Monitoring changes in invasive disease caused by Haemophilus influenzae in the Czech Republic between 1999 and 2020.

Aim: To assess the trends and changes in the incidence of invasive disease caused by Haemophilus influenzae in the Czech Republic (CR) between 1999 and 2020 with regard to the introduction of childhood vaccination against H. influenzae serotype b (Hib) in 2001. Characterization of strains by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and search for correlations between serotypes, sequence types, and patient groups or clinical manifestations of the disease.

Case-fatality and sequelae following acute bacterial meningitis in South Africa, 2016 through 2020.

Objectives: Providing country-specific estimates of case fatality and sequelae from bacterial meningitis (BM) is important to evaluate and monitor progress toward the World Health Organization's roadmap to "defeating meningitis by 2030".

Methods: From 2016-2020, GERMS-SA conducted enhanced surveillance at 26 hospitals across South Africa. Episodes of laboratory-confirmed BM due to Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria meningitidis were included.

Highly Similar Sequences of Mature IgA1 Proteases from , and .

The mature serine-type IgA1 protease from serogroup B strain H44/76 (IgA1pr1_28-1004) is considered here as the basis for creating a candidate vaccine against meningococcal meningitis. In this work, we examine the primary structure similarity of IgA1 proteases from various strains of a number of Gram-negative bacteria (, , ) in order to find a structural groundwork for creating a broad-spectrum vaccine based on fragments of this enzyme. BLAST has shown high similarity between the primary structure of IgA1pr1_28-1004 and hypothetical sequences of mature IgA1 proteases from (in 1060 out of 1061 examined strains), (in all 602 examined strains) and (in no less than 137 out of 521 examined strains).

Impact of a Single-Tube PCR Assay for the Detection of Serotypes a, c, d, e and f on the Epidemiological Surveillance in Greece.

Background: The decrease in the rate of meningitis due to Haemophilus influenzae type b after vaccine introduction and a possible change in epidemiology of H. influenzae disease highlights the need for continuous serotype surveillance. Methods: A single-tube multiplex PCR assay for serotyping of H.

Co-infection with dual Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes as a cause of pediatric bacterial meningitis in Iran: a multi-center cross-sectional study.

Background: Meningitis is considered a life-threatening infection with high mortality all over the world. Hemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (S.

The epidemiology of meningococcal meningitis: multicenter, hospital-based surveillance of meningococcal meningitis in Iraq.

Objectives: Outbreaks of have reached alarming levels due to the pathogen's ability to cause severe complications, presenting as meningitis or septicemia. Our study reports the results of the first wide-scale surveillance of meningococcal meningitis in Iraq.

Methods: The study included all consecutive cases of clinically suspected meningitis between June 2018 and May 2020 at 18 major hospitals around Iraq ( = 2314).

Relationship between T-cell-dependent and T-cell-independent vaccines after neurotrauma; is the B-cell response preserved?

Background: After trauma and central nervous system (CNS) injury, trauma-induced immune deficiency syndrome (TIDS) and CNS injury-induced immune deficiency syndrome (CIDS) may negatively affect responses to T-cell-dependent vaccines, such as pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) recommended after basilar fracture. This study (NCT02806284) aimed to investigate whether there after neurotrauma is a correlation between T-cell-dependent and independent vaccine responses and, thus, if B-cell activity is similarly depressed and whether the T-cell-dependent response is possible to predict.

Methods: Adult patients with basilar fracture (n = 33) and those undergoing pituitary gland surgery (n = 23) were within 10 days vaccinated with a T-cell-dependent vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and a T-cell-independent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV).

A cost-effectiveness analysis of PHiD-CV compared to PCV13 in a national immunization program setting in Tunisia.

Background: In response to the substantial clinical and economic burden of diseases caused by and non-typeable (NTHi) in Tunisia, the 10-valent pneumococcal non-typeable protein D conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV) was recently introduced into the national immunization program. However, there has yet to be a full-scale health economic analysis comparing currently available pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) in Tunisia.

Methods: A Markov model that simulated the disease processes of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), pneumonia, and acute otitis media (AOM) over a newborn cohort lifetime was used to evaluate the cost-effectiveness/utility of PHiD-CV and the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) from payer's perspective, using 3% discounting.

Pathogens detected using a syndromic molecular diagnostic platform in patients hospitalized with severe respiratory illness in South Africa in 2017.

Objectives: We describe the use of a multipathogen platform, TaqMan array card (TAC) real-time polymerase chain reaction, for the detection of pathogens in patients hospitalized with severe respiratory illness (SRI).

Methods: Prospective hospital-based syndromic surveillance for acute and chronic SRI was carried out at two sentinel sites in South Africa between January and December 2017. We tested respiratory specimens for 21 respiratory pathogens and blood samples for nine bacteria using TAC.

Characterization of a universal neutralizing monoclonal antibody against Glaesserella parasuis CdtB.

Glaesserella parasuis is the etiological agent of Glässer's disease. Although present as a symbiotic bacterium in the respiratory tract of healthy pigs, G. parasuis invades piglets under stress conditions and causes severe systemic infection characterized by fibrinous polyserositis, polyarthritis, and meningitis, which caused high mortality in weaned and nursery herds.

Ventriculitis Presenting as a Complication of Haemophilus Influenzae Mastoiditis and Meningitis.

Ventriculitis is a rare intracranial disease with potentially life-threatening consequences. Here, we present a case of acute mastoiditis that progressed to meningitis evolving to ventriculitis. This case was complicated by hydrocephalus that subsequently required the placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

Pathogen- and Type-Specific Changes in Invasive Bacterial Disease Epidemiology during the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic in The Netherlands.

COVID-19 control measures have resulted in a decline in invasive bacterial disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis (IMD), Streptococcus pneumoniae (IPD), and Haemophilus influenzae (Hi-D). These species comprise different serogroups and serotypes that impact transmissibility and virulence. We evaluated type- and pathogen-specific changes in invasive bacterial disease epidemiology in the Netherlands during the first year of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Synthetic Glycans to Improve Current Glycoconjugate Vaccines and Fight Antimicrobial Resistance.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is emerging as the next potential pandemic. Different microorganisms, including the bacteria , , , , , , , non-typhoidal , and , and the fungus , have been identified by the WHO and CDC as urgent or serious AMR threats. Others, such as group A and B , are classified as concerning threats.

Antimicrobial resistance among Haemophilus influenzae isolates responsible for lower respiratory tract infections in Poland, 2005-2019.

Haemophilus influenzae is a human-specific pathogen responsible for respiratory tract infections, meningitis, and sepsis. The study aimed to characterize antibiotic resistance in H. influenzae strains isolated from patients with lower respiratory tract infections over 15 years in Poland.

Etiology of meningitis among adults in three quaternary hospitals in Mozambique, 2016-2017: The role of HIV.

Background: Meningitis remains an important cause of morbi-mortality in adults in sub-Saharan Africa. Data on the etiological investigation of meningitis in adults in Mozambique is limited and most studies were conducted in southern Mozambique. Identification of the etiology of meningitis in adults are crucial to guide prevention and treatments strategies.

Detection of Haemophilus influenzae by loop-mediated isothermal amplification coupled with nanoparticle-based lateral flow biosensor assay.

Background: Haemophilus influenzae was the most aggressive pathogen and formed a major cause of bacterial meningitis and pneumonia in young children and infants, which need medical emergency requiring immediate diagnosis and treatment. However, From isolation to identification of H. influenzae, the traditional diagnose strategy was time-consuming and expensive.

One-Year Sequelae and Quality of Life in Adults with Meningococcal Meningitis: Lessons from the COMBAT Multicentre Prospective Study.

Introduction: COMBAT is a prospective, multicentre cohort study that enrolled consecutive adults with community-acquired bacterial meningitis (CABM) in 69 participating centres in France between February 2013 and July 2015 and followed them for 1 year.

Methods: Patients aged at least 18 years old, hospitalised with CABM were followed during their hospitalisation and then contacted by phone 12 months after enrolment. Here we present the prevalence of sequelae at 12 months in a subgroup of patients with meningococcal meningitis.

Epidemiology and burden of Haemophilus influenzae disease in Thai children before implementation of the routine immunisation programme: A National Health Data Analysis.

Objectives: To conduct the first pre-Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) type b (Hib) immunisation programme-based epidemiological study using national health data.

Methods: We analysed National Health Security Office data, which cover 72% of the Thai population. The study population included children aged <18 years admitted for Hi disease from 2015 to 2019.

The Collateral Effect of COVID-19 on the Epidemiology of Airborne/Droplet-Transmitted Notifiable Infectious Diseases in Taiwan.

This study was conducted to compare the number of cases of airborne/droplet-transmitted notifiable infectious disease (NID) between the pandemic period (defined as from January 2020 to December 2021) and the pre-pandemic period (defined as the period from January 2018 to December 2019). The annual case numbers of airborne/droplet-transmitted NIDs from 2018 to 2021 were collected for comparison. Fourteen airborne/droplet-transmitted NIDs including measles, rubella, pertussis, influenza with severe complications, invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD), Q fever, mumps, meningococcal meningitis, varicella, legionellosis, invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b infection, hantavirus syndrome, TB, and multidrug-resistant TB (MDRTB), were included for the analysis.

Induction of Susceptibility to Disseminated Infection with IgA1 Protease-Producing Encapsulated Pathogens Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae Type b, and Neisseria meningitidis.

Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae are the principal causes of bacterial meningitis. It is unexplained why only occasional individuals develop invasive infection, while the vast majority remain healthy and develop immunity when encountering these pathogens. A capsular polysaccharide and an IgA1 protease are common to these pathogens.

Delays in Diagnosis and Treatment of Bacterial Meningitis in NYC: Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

Community-acquired bacterial meningitis (CABM) morbidity and mortality remains high in those infected. Rapid diagnosis and treatment is paramount to reducing mortality and improving outcome. This retrospective cohort study aims to assess the time from presentation to diagnosis and treatment of vaccine preventable CABM as well as identify possible factors associated with delays in diagnosis and antibiotic administration.

Unusual Gram-negative bacteria cause more severe bacterial meningitis than the three classical agents in children.

Aim: To compare the characteristics, mortality and sequelae at hospital discharge of childhood bacterial meningitis (BM) caused by the three "classical" agents Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae or Streptococcus pneumoniae versus BM due to other aetiology in Finland, Latin America and Angola.

Methods: This observational study is a secondary analysis of data from five prospective treatment trials on non-neonatal BM in Finland, Latin America and Angola in 1984-2017.

Results: Of the 1568 cases, 1459 (93%) were caused by the classics, 80 (5%) by other Gram-negative and 29 (2%) by other Gram-positive bacteria.