Factors Influencing HIV Infection in Children Born to HIV-Infected Mothers in Turkey

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is still a challenge for children. About 15 to 45% of the HIV positive pregnant women can transmit the virus to their children during pregnancy, delivery and/or breastfeeding. The risk of transmission can be decreased my several measures. Aims: To identify factors associated with HIV infection in children born to HIV-infected mothers. Study Design: A multi-center retrospective cohort study. Methods: A ten-year retrospective cohort study in five dedicated HIV centers was conducted. The 325 women in our cohort were between the ages of 18 and 45. During the study period, 44 (13.5%) of these women gave birth and 51 babies were born. Of the 51 infants, 7 (13.7%) were HIV/AIDS positive. Results: Among the factors studied, breastfeeding, having a HIV-positive sibling and being on antiretroviral treatment during pregnancy and detectable HIV-RNA during delivery were found statistically significant. A multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that being on antiretroviral treatment during pregnancy is the most important predictor of mother-to-child transmission. Conclusion: Mother-to-child transmission appears to be an important route of HIV transmission in Turkey. Lack of antiretroviral treatment during pregnancy appears to be a key factor in transmission.

Tocilizumab treatment in severe COVID-19: a multicenter retrospective study with matched controls.

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) associated pneumonia may progress into acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Some patients develop features of macrophage activation syndrome (MAS). Elevated levels of IL-6 were reported to be associated with severe disease, and anti-IL-6R tocilizumab has been shown to be effective in some patients. This retrospective multicenter case-control study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of tocilizumab in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, who received standard of care with or without tocilizumab. Primary outcome was the progression to intubation or death. PSMATCH (SAS) procedure was used to achieve exact propensity score (PS) matching. Data from 1289 patients were collected, and study population was reduced to 1073 based on inclusion-exclusion criteria. The composite outcome was observed more frequently in tocilizumab-users, but there was a significant imbalance between arms in all critical parameters. Primary analyses were carried out in 348 patients (174 in each arm) after exact PS matching according to gender, ferritin, and procalcitonin. Logistic regression models revealed that tocilizumab significantly reduced the intubation or death (OR 0.40, p = 0.0017). When intubation is considered alone, tocilizumab-users had > 60% reduction in odds of intubation. Multiple imputation approach, which increased the size of the matched patients up to 506, provided no significant difference between arms despite a similar trend for intubation alone group. Analysis of this retrospective cohort showed more frequent intubation or death in tocilizumab-users, but PS-matched analyses revealed significant results for supporting tocilizumab use overall in a subset of patients matched according to gender, ferritin and procalcitonin levels.

Efficacy and safety of co-formulated elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide in HIV-positive patients: real-world data.

OBJECTIVES: Elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (E/C/F/TAF) is a recommended and widely used regimen for HIV infection. In this study, we aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of E/C/F/TAF in people living with HIV (PLWH), who are either treatment-naïve or switched from any tenofovir disoproxil fumarate-containing regimen. For switched patients, we aimed to determine the impact of switching from tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) to TAF on lipid profile and kidney functions. METHODS: ACTHIV-IST Study Group produced a database, and five dedicated HIV centres in Istanbul entered data of PLWH who switched from any TDF-containing regimen to E/C/F/TAF and treatment-naïve patients who were initiated with the E/C/F/TAF regimen between January 2017 and December 2019. Clinical findings, viral parameters, lipid studies, renal function tests, adverse events and adherence to the treatment were recorded in this prospective observational study. RESULTS: The study included a total of 614 switched and treatment-naïve patients. Of 430 treatment-experienced patients, 89% (382) were men, and the mean age was 42 ± 12 years. Among them, 47% (181/382) self-identified as men who have sex with men (MSM). The median duration of HIV diagnosis was 54 ± 29 months. The median duration of E/C/F/TAF use was 20 ± 36 months and that of previous treatment was 23 ± 18 months. HIV-RNA was undetectable at baseline and month 12 in 84.1% (360/428) and 86.1% (328/381) of patients, respectively (p > 0.05). Mean CD4 counts were 708 ± 287 cells/µL and 802 ± 305 cells/µL at baseline and month 12, respectively (p < 0.001). Serum creatinine levels remained stable during the treatment period. Mean total cholesterol levels at baseline and month 12 were 172 and 211 mg/dL (p < 0.01), LDL-cholesterol 104 and 138 mg/dL (p < 0.01), HDL-cholesterol 39 and 49 mg/dL (p < 0.01) and triglycerides 134 and 174 mg/dL (p < 0.01), respectively. The treatment was generally well tolerated. Eight patients discontinued the therapy (drug interaction: 3; lost to follow-up: 1; pregnancy: 1; pulmonary tuberculosis: 1; side effect: 1; patient's decision: 1). Of 184 treatment-naïve patients, 88% (162) were men, and the mean age was 36.5± 12 years. Among them, 50% (81/162) self-identified as MSM. The mean duration of HIV infection was 21.6 ± 17.1 months. The mean duration of E/C/F/TAF use was 16 ± 4 months. HIV-RNA was undetectable at baseline and month 12 in 1% and 89.1% of patients, respectively. Mean CD4 counts at baseline and month 12 were 469 ± 223 cells/µL and 740 ± 298 cells/µL, respectively. During the treatment period, creatinine levels remained stable. Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride and also HDL-cholesterol levels increased. Mean total cholesterol levels at baseline and month 12 were 167 and 211 mg/dL (p < 0.01), LDL-cholesterol 108 and 143 mg/dL (p < 0.01), HDL-cholesterol 41 and 47 mg/dL (p < 0.01) and triglycerides 136 and 172 mg/dL, respectively (p < 0.01). The treatment was generally well tolerated. Three patients discontinued the therapy (drug interaction: 1; non-responder: 1; patient's decision: 1). CONCLUSION: Starting with or switching to E/C/F/TAF in PLWH effectively suppresses HIV infection, is associated with an increase in CD4 cell count and is well tolerated in a real-life setting. Renal functions remained stable during the treatment. E/C/F/TAF use was associated with an increase in LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels along with an increase in HDL-cholesterol levels.

Effectiveness and safety of elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate single-tablet combination among HIV-infected patients in Turkey: results from a real world setting.

Background: Efficacy of elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil (E/C/F/TDF) in treatment-naïve and experienced patients with HIV infection was demonstrated in phase 3 trials. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate effectiveness and safety of E/C/F/TDF in real world settings. Methods: Retrospective, observational data collected by the Turkish ACTHIV-IST study group between May 2015 and December 2016 were analysed. Results: A total of 387 patients were prescribed E/C/F/TDF; 210 patients with available data at 6th month were eligible; 91.5% were male, and mean age was 35.2 (SD: 10.8) years; 54.0% of males identified themselves as MSM. Sixty-three percent (133) of the study population were treatment-naïve patients, and 37% (77) were treatment experienced. HIV RNA level was below 100 copies/mL in 78.9% of treatment-naïve patients and 89.9% of treatment experienced patients at month 6. Median increase in CD4 T lymphocyte count was 218 copies/mL in treatment-naïve patients and remained stable or increased in treatment experienced patients. Adverse events were observed in 15% of the patients, and the regimen was discontinued in only six patients. Conclusion: Real world data on the effectiveness and safety of E/C/F/TDF is comparable with the phase 3 trial results Adverse events are uncommon and manageable.

Evaluation of hepatitis B vaccine efficacy and factors affecting vaccine nonresponse in patients receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor agents.

OBJECTIVES: The response rate of patients to hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents is quite low. We aimed to assess the efficiency of HBV vaccination in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases (CIDs) receiving anti-TNF agents as well as in healthy controls. We also evaluated the impact of different factors on the efficacy of HBV vaccination. METHODS: Patients with CIDs receiving anti-TNF agents and healthy controls vaccinated for HBV were included in the study during 2018-2019. An adequate immune response and an effective immune response to HBV were defined as >10 IU/L and > 100 IU/L, respectively. RESULTS: Among 274 participants, 187 were patients with CID and 87 were healthy controls. The mean age of the patients with CID (43.9 ± 11.7 years) was significantly higher than that of the healthy controls (31.4 ± 7 years) (P = 0.000). Adequate immune response was 60.8 and 94.3% in patients with CID and healthy controls (P = 0.000), respectively, whereas effective immune response was 37.9 and 75.9% (P = 0.000), respectively. In logistic regression analysis, male sex [odds ratio (OR), 0.408; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.201-0.830; P = 0.013), use of infliximab (OR, 2.694; 95% CI, 1.203-6.035; P = 0.016) and sertoluzimab (OR, 3.307; 95% CI, 1.287-8.498; P = 0.013), vaccination after anti-TNF treatment (OR, 0.224; 95% CI, 0.083-0.602; P = 0.003) were identified as risk factors of nonresponse to HBV vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: Infliximab and sertoluzimab usage, male sex, and vaccination after anti-TNF treatment were risk factors of nonresponse. HBV vaccination should be given to patients with CID before initiation of anti-TNF treatment and awareness should be spread on this subject.

Investigation of the changing etiology and risk factors of prosthetic joint infections : a university hospital surveillance study from 2011-2017.

We sought to characterize the causative pathogens of prosthetic joint infections (PJIs), evaluate the trends in microbial etiologies, and identify potential risk factors for PJI. This was a retrospective study analyzing 70 patients with PJI following 3,253 total joint arthroplasties between 2011 and 2017. Staphylococci were the most common cause of infection (52.9%). There was a significant trend in the percentage of carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacilli (GNB) (increased to 66.7% in 2016 from 0.0% in 2011) (p=0.021). GNB and polymicrobial etiology were found at significantly high levels in cases involving early PJIs (p=0.005 and p=0.048, respectively). While staphylococci were significantly higher in PJIs after total knee arthroplasty (75%), GNB were significantly higher in PJIs after total hip arthroplasty (49.1%) (p<0.001 and p=0.001, respectively). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of PJI was significantly higher in cases with fracture and diabetes mellitus (odds ratio [OR], 4.3, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.78-10.5 ; OR, 4.1, 95% CI, 1.66-10.5, respectively). These results suggest that the empirical and targeted antimicrobial treatment of PJIs may become more difficult in the future.

A novel id-iri score: development and internal validation of the multivariable community acquired sepsis clinical risk prediction model.

We aimed to develop a scoring system for predicting in-hospital mortality of community-acquired (CA) sepsis patients. This was a prospective, observational multicenter study performed to analyze CA sepsis among adult patients through ID-IRI (Infectious Diseases International Research Initiative) at 32 centers in 10 countries between December 1, 2015, and May 15, 2016. After baseline evaluation, we used univariate analysis at the second and logistic regression analysis at the third phase. In this prospective observational study, data of 373 cases with CA sepsis or septic shock were submitted from 32 referral centers in 10 countries. The median age was 68 (51-77) years, and 174 (46,6%) of the patients were females. The median hospitalization time of the patients was 15 (10-21) days. Overall mortality rate due to CA sepsis was 17.7% (n = 66). The possible predictors which have strong correlation and the variables that cause collinearity are acute oliguria, altered consciousness, persistent hypotension, fever, serum creatinine, age, and serum total protein. CAS (%) is a new scoring system and works in accordance with the parameters in third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3). The system has yielded successful results in terms of predicting mortality in CA sepsis patients.

Clostridium difficile infection: Is there a change in the underlying factors? Inflammatory bowel disease and Clostridium difficile.

BACKGROUND / AIMS: Clostridium difficile is a Gram-positive, strict anaerobe, spore-forming bacterium. It can cause self-limiting mild diarrhea, severe diarrhea, pseudomembranous colitis, and fatal fulminant colitis. We aimed to investigate the changes in epidemiology and incidence of C. difficile infection in our hospital database. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Episodes of C. difficile toxin were identified in hospital database, and data such as age, sex, community versus hospital acquisition, intensive care follow-up, current or previous treatments with antibiotics within the past 3 months, medication with proton pump inhibitors, or immunosuppressive therapies were collected. RESULTS: Toxin-positive 78 individuals constituted the patient group. In univariate analyses, independent risk factors for toxin positivity were community versus hospital acquisition [odds ratio (OR), 5.49; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.52-11.95; P = 0.0001], presence of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) (OR, 21.5; 95% CI, 8.65-53.44; P = 0.0001), proton pump inhibitors' use (OR, 4.53; 95% CI, 1.97-10.43; P = 0.0001), immunosuppressive drug use (OR, 4.1; 95% CI, 2.01-8.3; P = 0.0001), and use of quinolone group of antibiotics (OR, 5.95; 95% CI, 1.92-18.46; P = 0.001). Antibiotic use was a protective risk factor (OR, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.01-0.78; P = 0.01) and presence of IBDs was an independent risk factor (OR, 6.8; 95% CI, 1.5-30.08; P = 0.01) in community-acquired group (OR, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.01-0.78; P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: In recent studies, C. difficile infections were demonstrated to be more frequent in younger individuals who did not have a history of hospitalization but had an underlying disease such as IBD. In our study, we showed the change in the epidemiological data with prominence of underlying diseases such as IBDs.

Assessment of the 24th Week Success of Anti-Retroviral Therapy in the Action against HIV in Istanbul Database: Results from a Region with Increasing Incidence.

We aimed to assess the 24-week virological and immunological success of the treatment of treatment-naive and treatment-experienced patients included in the Action against HIV in Istanbul (ACTHIV-IST) database. The ACTHIV-IST database was screened retrospectively from January 2012 to January 2014. The data for these patients such as age, sex, treatment-naive or treatment-experienced status, date of diagnosis, date of commencing antiretroviral therapy, antiretroviral therapy regimen, CD4+ cell count, and viral load before and after therapy were analyzed. In the 24th week of antiretroviral therapy, there were 40 (17.9%) and 29 (14.1%) virological and immunological failures, respectively. Virological failure (VF) was associated with a baseline viral load > 100,000 copies (p = 0.004). A CD4+ cell count lower than 200 cells/µl was not found to be associated with VF (p = 0.843). Immunological failure was substantially rare in patients with a baseline CD4+ cell count > 200 cells/µl (p = 0.005). Although an HIV-RNA ≤ 100,000 copies/ml was protective against VF in the 24th week, in individuals with an HIV-RNA > 100,000 copies/ml, VF was 3.2 times more likely to occur. Baseline VF was the most predictive parameter to estimate 24th week virological success and VF. VF is an important prognostic parameter resulting in CD4+ cell depletion, AIDS-related events, and increased mortality.

Analysis of infectious spondylodiscitis: 7-years data.

OBJECTIVE: Infectious spondylodiscitis (SD) is an infectious disease that is rare and difficult to diagnose due to its non-specific clinical features. In this study, we aimed to describe the clinical and diagnostic features of infectious spondylodiscitis. METHODS: All patients who were diagnosed with SD at our hospital during a 7-year period from January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2017 were included in the study. Spondylodiscitis is divided into the following three types: pyogenic, tuberculous, and brucellar. Clinical and laboratory data were collected retrospectively from the medical records of the patients. RESULTS: Of the 118 patients, 66 (55.9%) were female, 81 (68.6%) had pyogenic SD (PSD), 21 (17.8%) had tuberculous SD (TSD), and 16 (13.6%) had brucellar SD (BSD). The mean age was 59.3 ± 14.6 years. Leucocytosis was significantly higher in patients with PSD (p=0.01) than in patients with other types of SD. Thoracic involvement (47.6%) was significantly higher in patients with TSD (p=0.005) than in other patients. Sacral involvement (12.5%) was significantly higher in patients with BSD (p=0.01) than in other patients. Paravertebral abscess formation (42.8%) occurred most frequently in patients with TSD. Microbiologic agents were defined in 50% (18/36) of the surgical specimens and in 12.5% of the fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) specimens. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common microbiological agent in patients with PSD. Spinal surgery was defined as a risk factor for PSD (p = 0.0001). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that female gender, thoracic involvement and night sweats were the predictive markers for TSD (OR 4.5 [95% CI 1.3-15.3] and OR 5 [95% CI 1.7-14.6]). CONCLUSION: PSD is the most frequent form of SD. Leucocytosis is most common in patients with PSD. Thoracic involvement and paraspinal abscess were prominent in patients with TSD. Sacral involvement was most common in patients with BSD. Thoracic involvement, female gender and night sweats were the predictive markers for TSD. The microbiological culture positivity rate was higher in surgical specimens compared to FNAB specimens. The need for surgical treatment was most common in patients with TSD.

Human immunodeficiency virus and tuberculosis coinfection: clinical features and predictors of mortality

Background/aim: This study was undertaken to identify subjects with human immunodeficiency virus and tuberculosis (HIV/TB) coinfection in a group of HIV-positive patients followed at five different healthcare centers, and to determine the demographic and clinical characteristics of these subjects as well as the predictors of mortality. Materials and methods: A database search for subjects with TB coinfection was performed among 1475 HIV-positive adult patients and a total of 66 individuals were identified with HIV/TB coinfection. Results: There were 66 patients (4.5%) with TB coinfection. Twenty-one percent (n = 14) of the patients with TB coinfection died during the study period and these patients had significantly lower baseline CD4 counts at the time of TB diagnosis (P = 0.005). None of the patients with CD4 count of ≥200 cells/mm3 died during follow-up and a low CD4 count at the time of TB diagnosis (<200 cells/ mm3) was associated with poor survival (P = 0.012). However, none of the parameters emerged as significant independent predictors of survival in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: Coexistence of TB and HIV infection is associated with many clinical challenges and a better understanding of patient characteristics as well as the parameters impacting the outcome will improve the quality of care provided for this group of patients.

Mortality markers in nosocomial Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infection.

PURPOSE: Klebsiella pneumoniae is the most common endogen agent for nosocomial infections. In this study, mortality markers were investigated in patients with nosocomial K. pneumoniae blood stream infection (NKp BSI). METHODS: The characteristics of patients >16 years who had NKp BSI diagnosis by daily active surveillance between January 2012 and January 2016 were retrospectively evaluated. Patients who died until 28th day of the clinical follow up and those who survived until this time were statistically compared in terms of various risk factors. RESULTS: One hundred ninety patients were included into the study. Mortality rate was 47.9%, carbapenem resistance was 43.2%. Statistical analysis have shown that in presence of post-NKp BSI sepsis, septic shock, following in intensive care unit (ICU), meropenem resistance, kidney failure, NKp BSI secondary to pneumonia, use of invasive instruments such as central venous catheter (CVC), urinary catheter (UC) and mechanical ventilator (MV), colostomy, transfusion and hemodialysis mortality was significantly higher. In patients admitted into the hospital for neurological disorders, pancreaticobiliary tract (PBT) diseases and patients who have undergone endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and patients in whom NKp BSI secondary to PBT infection mortality rate was lower. CONCLUSIONS: Sepsis, septic shock, clinical conditions requiring ICU treatment and meropenem resistance increase mortality rates in NKp BSI significantly. Mortality was higher also in patients with NKp BSI secondary to pneumonia, in kidney failure and when invasive instruments were used. On the other hand, in patients who were admitted to the hospital for neurological disorders and PBT diseases mortality rate was lower.

Cranial imaging findings in neurobrucellosis: results of Istanbul-3 study.

OBJECTIVE: Neuroimaging abnormalities in central nervous system (CNS) brucellosis are not well documented. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of imaging abnormalities in neurobrucellosis and to identify factors associated with leptomeningeal and basal enhancement, which frequently results in unfavorable outcomes. METHODS: Istanbul-3 study evaluated 263 adult patients with CNS brucellosis from 26 referral centers and reviewed their 242 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 226 computerized tomography (CT) scans of the brain. RESULTS: A normal CT or MRI scan was seen in 143 of 263 patients (54.3 %). Abnormal imaging findings were grouped into the following four categories: (a) inflammatory findings: leptomeningeal involvements (44), basal meningeal enhancements (30), cranial nerve involvements (14), spinal nerve roots enhancement (8), brain abscesses (7), granulomas (6), and arachnoiditis (4). (b) White-matter involvement: white-matter involvement (32) with or without demyelinating lesions (7). (c) Vascular involvement: vascular involvement (42) mostly with chronic cerebral ischemic changes (37). (d) Hydrocephalus/cerebral edema: hydrocephalus (20) and brain edema (40). On multivariate logistic regression analysis duration of symptoms since the onset (OR 1.007; 95 % CI 1-28, p = 0.01), polyneuropathy and radiculopathy (OR 5.4; 95 % CI 1.002-1.013, p = 0.044), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)/serum glucose rate (OR 0.001; 95 % CI 000-0.067, p = 0.001), and CSF protein (OR 2.5; 95 % CI 2.3-2.7, p = 0.0001) were associated with diffuse inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, 45 % of neurobrucellosis patients had abnormal neuroimaging findings. The duration of symptoms, polyneuropathy and radiculopathy, high CSF protein level, and low CSF/serum glucose rate were associated with inflammatory findings on imaging analyses.

Changes in HIV demographic patterns in a low prevalence population: no evidence of a shift towards men who have sex with men.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the changes in HIV demographics over time in an exceptionally low prevalence population, with particular emphasis on men who have sex with men (MSM). METHODS: A total of 1292 newly diagnosed HIV-positive patients registered in the ACTHIV-IST Study Group database between 2000 and 2014 were included. The changes occurring over time in the characteristics of patients at the time of initial admission were examined retrospectively. RESULTS: A gradual increase in the total number of newly diagnosed patients was evident during the study period; however, it was not possible to show an increase in the proportion of MSM within the study population (p=0.63). There was a male predominance throughout the study (85% vs. 15%), with further increases in the proportion of males in recent years. The mean age was lower at the end of the study (p<0.05) and there was an increase in the number of unmarried patients (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Sexual preference patterns of HIV patients in extremely low prevalence populations may be different, possibly due to an early phase of the epidemic. Nevertheless, MSM still represent a target subgroup for interventions, since they account for a substantial proportion of cases and a resurgent epidemic may be expected among this group in later phases of the epidemic.

Causative pathogens and antibiotic resistance in diabetic foot infections: A prospective multi-center study.

AIM: Clinical practice guidelines for the management of diabetic foot infections developed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) are commonly used worldwide. The issue of whether or not these guidelines need to be adjusted for local circumstances, however, has seldom been assessed in large prospective trials. METHODS: The Turk-DAY trial was a prospective, multi-center study in which infectious disease specialists from centers across Turkey were invited to participate (NCT02026830). RESULTS: A total of 35 centers throughout Turkey enrolled patients in the trial. Overall, investigators collected a total of 522 specimens from infected diabetic foot wounds for culture from 447 individual patients. Among all isolates, 36.4% were gram-positive organisms, with Staphylococcus aureus the most common among these (11.4%). Gram-negative organisms constituted 60.2% of all the isolates, and the most commonly isolated gram-negative was Escherichia coli (15%). The sensitivity rates of the isolated species were remarkably low for several antimicrobials used in the mild infection group. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our findings, several of the antimicrobials frequently used for empirical treatment, including some also recommended in the IDSA guidelines, would not be optimal for treating diabetic foot infections in Turkey. Although the IDSA guideline recommendations may be helpful to guide empiric antimicrobial therapy of DFIs, they should be adjusted to local conditions.

Tuberculous and brucellosis meningitis differential diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: The Thwaites and Lancet scoring systems have been used in the rapid diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis (TBM). However, brucellar meningoencephalitis (BME) has similar characteristics with TBM. The ultimate aim of this study is to infer data to see if BME should be included in the differential diagnosis of TBM when these two systems suggest the presence of TBM. METHOD: BME and TBM patients from 35 tertiary hospitals were included in this study. Overall 294 adult patients with BME and 190 patients with TBM were enrolled. All patients involved in the study had microbiological confirmation for either TBM or BME. Finally, the Thwaites and Lancet scoring systems were assessed in both groups. RESULTS: The Thwaites scoring system more frequently predicted BME cases (n = 292, 99.3%) compared to the TBM group (n = 182, 95.8%) (P = 0.017). According to the Lancet scoring system, the mean scores for BME and TBM were 9.43 ± 1.71 and 11.45 ± 3.01, respectively (P < 0.001). In addition, TBM cases were classified into "probable" category more significantly compared to BME cases, and BME cases were categorized into the "possible" category more frequently. CONCLUSIONS: When the Thwaites or Lancet scoring systems indicate TBM, brucellar etiology should also be taken into consideration particularly in endemic countries.

Results of a multinational study suggest the need for rapid diagnosis and early antiviral treatment at the onset of herpetic meningoencephalitis.

Data in the literature regarding the factors that predict unfavorable outcomes in adult herpetic meningoencephalitis (HME) cases are scarce. We conducted a multicenter study in order to provide insights into the predictors of HME outcomes, with special emphasis on the use and timing of antiviral treatment. Samples from 501 patients with molecular confirmation from cerebrospinal fluid were included from 35 referral centers in 10 countries. Four hundred thirty-eight patients were found to be eligible for the analysis. Overall, 232 (52.9%) patients experienced unfavorable outcomes, 44 died, and 188 survived, with sequelae. Age (odds ratio [OR], 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02 to 1.05), Glasgow Coma Scale score (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.77 to 0.93), and symptomatic periods of 2 to 7 days (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.16 to 2.79) and >7 days (OR, 3.75; 95% CI, 1.72 to 8.15) until the commencement of treatment predicted unfavorable outcomes. The outcome in HME patients is related to a combination of therapeutic and host factors. This study suggests that rapid diagnosis and early administration of antiviral treatment in HME patients are keys to a favorable outcome.