Epidemiology and Clinical Outcomes of Bacterial Meningitis in Children and Adults in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Purpose of Review: Despite the availability of effective vaccines against the three primary pathogens (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and Neisseria meningitidis) that cause bacterial meningitis, this condition remains a significant cause of morbidity, neurologic sequelae, and mortality among children and adults living in low-income and middle-income countries. Recent Findings: Bacterial meningitis represents a significant public health challenge for national and global health systems. Since vaccine-preventable meningitis remains highly prevalent in low-income and middle-income countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently developed a global roadmap to defeating meningitis by 2030 and ameliorating its associated neurological sequelae. Summary: There is a need for a global approach to surveillance and prevention of bacterial meningitis. Increasing vaccination coverage with conjugate vaccines against pneumococcus and meningococcus with optimal immunization schedules are high-value healthcare interventions. Additionally, overcoming diagnostic challenges and the early institution of empirical antibiotic therapy and, when feasible, adjunctive steroid therapy constitutes the pillars of reducing the disease burden of bacterial meningitis in resource-limited settings.

Epidemiological and Financial Aspects of Hospitalizations for Bacterial Meningitis in Brazil.

Introduction: Understanding the epidemiology and cost implications of acute bacterial meningitis is crucial for effective health planning, timely treatment implementation, and comprehensive patient support measures, as well as for determining appropriate hospital expenses. Therefore, we conducted an analysis of hospitalization cases for bacterial meningitis in Brazil from January 2008 to December 2019. Methods: This is a descriptive ecological study that utilized the Hospital Information System of Brazil's National Unified Health System (SIH/SUS) database. The variables included sex, region, age group, hospitalizations, deaths, lethality rate, and hospital service expenses. The data were tabulated to focus specifically on the epidemiological aspect of bacterial meningitis. Results: During the study period, there were 20,207 hospitalizations for bacterial meningitis in Brazil. Men accounted for a higher number of cases, with 11,690 (57.67%), while women had a higher lethality rate of 10.64%. The Southeast region had the highest percentage of both hospitalizations (45.78%) and deaths (46.42%). Bacterial meningitis remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in children under 5 years of age. Notably, the elderly and the Northeast region showed higher rates of lethality. The total expenditure on hospital services exceeded 43 million in Brazilian real, with the highest expenditure observed in 2019 and the lowest in 2011. Conclusion: A higher prevalence of the disease was observed in males, in children under 1-year-old and in the southeast region. Hospital expenditures were found to be substantial and increasing over time, underscoring the significance of early diagnosis and the promotion of vaccination campaigns.

Recurrent community-acquired pneumococcal meningitis in adults with and without identified predisposing factors.

Bacterial meningitis is still a significant public health concern, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Despite this, it is still a rare event that requires the bacterial invasion of the meninges. However, some predisposing factors can trigger recurrent episodes of meningitis. This study is aimed at determining the clinical characteristics and the molecular epidemiology of episodes of recurrent community-acquired meningitis with and without predisposing factors. For this purpose, we performed a retrospective study of our laboratory database during the period of 2010 to 2020. Additionally, using molecular tools developed in our previous works, the epidemiology of the pathogens causing these episodes was analyzed using cerebrospinal fluid samples, especially in the absence of isolated strains. We observed a total of 1,779 meningitis cases and 230 were caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. Of those, 16 were recurrent meningitis episodes (16/1,779; 0.9%) from seven patients. Pneumococcus was the main agent responsible in these recurrent episodes and only two episodes were caused by Haemophilus influenzae. The mean age of these patients was 20 years old and three had predisposing factors which could have led to contracting meningitis. The samples presented different pneumococcal serotypes. Most of them were non-vaccine-covered serotypes and antibiotic susceptible strains. Therefore, it was demonstrated how the practical employment of molecular tools, developed for research, when applied in the routine of diagnosis, can provide important information for epidemiological surveillance. Furthermore, it was shown how pneumococcus was the leading cause of recurrent community-acquired meningitis without predisposing factors, suggesting that pneumococcal vaccination may be necessary, even in those groups of individuals considered to be less susceptible.

Shorter versus longer duration of antibiotic treatment in children with bacterial meningitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The optimal duration of antibiotic treatment for the most common bacterial meningitis etiologies in the pediatric population, namely Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria meningitidis, is not well-established in the literature. Therefore, we aimed to perform an updated meta-analysis comparing shorter versus longer antibiotic treatment in children with meningitis. PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared shorter (up to 7 days) versus longer (10 days or double the days of the equivalent short course) duration of antibiotic treatment in children with meningitis and reported the outcomes of treatment failure, death, neurologic sequelae, non-neurologic complications, hearing impairment, nosocomial infection, and relapse. Heterogeneity was examined with I2 statistics. RevMan 5.4.1 was used for statistical analysis and RoB-2 (Cochrane) for risk of bias assessment. Of 684 search results, 6 RCTs were included, with a cohort of 1333 children ages 3 weeks to 15.5 years, of whom 49.51% underwent a short antibiotic course. All RCTs included monotherapy with ceftriaxone, except one, which added vancomycin as well. No differences were found comparing the short and long duration of therapy concerning treatment failure, relapse, mortality, and neurologic complications at discharge and at follow-up.  Conclusion: Because no statistically significant differences were found between groups for the analyzed outcomes, the results of this meta-analysis support shorter therapy. However, generalizing these results to complicated meningitis and infections caused by other pathogens should be made with caution. (PROSPERO identifier: CRD42022369843). What is Known: • Current recommendations on the duration of antibiotic therapy for bacterial meningitis are mostly based on clinical practice. • Defining an optimal duration of antibiotic therapy is essential for antimicrobial stewardship achievement, improving patient outcomes, and minimizing adverse effects. What is New: • There are no differences between shorter versus longer antibiotic treatment duration in regard to treatment failure, relapse, mortality, neurologic complications, and hearing impairment at discharge and at follow-up.

Streptococcus suis meningitis: An emerging zoonotic disease in Brazil

ABSTRACT Streptococcus suis has been widely reported as a pathogen in animals, especially pigs. In terms of human health implications, it has been characterized as a zoonosis associated with the consumption of pork products and occupational exposure, particularly in Southeast Asian countries. Here, we present a rare case of human S. suis infection in Brazil, diagnosed in an older adult swine farmer, a small rural producer residing in the semi-arid region of Bahia, Brazil.

Accurate, fast and cost-effective simultaneous detection of bacterial meningitis by qualitative PCR with high-resolution melting.

Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae are leading causes of meningitis and acute invasive infections. PCR-based methods are widely used for the diagnosis and surveillance of bacterial pathogens because of their high sensitivity, specificity and high-throughput capabilities compared with conventional laboratory methods. This study evaluated a high-resolution melting qualitative PCR analysis method for the simultaneous detection of these three pathogens. The assay has been optimized to detect three species-specific genes of each organism isolated from clinical samples, enabling accurate identification of the etiological agent. The method proved to be highly sensitive and cheaper than the real-time PCR TaqMan® system because it is probe-free; it could be used for the diagnosis of invasive diseases in public health laboratories of developing countries.

Pediatric central nervous system infections in the Amazon: clinical and laboratory profiles.

Background: Central nervous system (CNS) infections are important causes of mortality and morbidity in children, and they are related to severe problems such as hearing loss, neurological sequelae, and death. The objective was to describe clinical and laboratory exam profiles of children who were diagnosed with CNS infections. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study based on medical records, which included pediatric patients aged from 3 months to 15 years, with a clinical suspicion of CNS infection between January 2014 to December 2019. The pathogens were confirmed in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples using Gram staining, cell culture, molecular diagnostics (PCR and qPCR), and serology. Results: Out of the 689 enrolled patients, 108 (15.6%) had laboratory-confirmed infections in CSF. The most common bacterial pathogens isolated from the culture were Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C in 19, Streptococcus pneumoniae in 11, and Haemophilus influenzae in seven samples. The viruses identified were Enterovirus, Cytomegalovirus, Varicella-zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus, and arbovirus. No patient was found to be positive for Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2. Patients with viral infections showed altered levels of consciousness (p = 0.001) when compared to bacterial infections. Conclusion: This study shows the presence of important vaccine-preventable pathogens, and different families of viruses causing CNS infections in the pediatric patients of Manaus.

Diagnosis of bacterial meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae using a multiplex real-time PCR technique.

Bacterial meningitis is one of the diseases that, despite the introduction of several vaccines, remains a serious public health concern. Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn), Neisseria meningitidis (Nm), and Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) are responsible for most cases diagnosed in children, adolescents, and adult population. Rapid, sensitive, and specific laboratory assays are critical for effective diagnosis and treatment, particularly in countries like Mexico in which culture positivity rates are very low due to the use of antibiotics prior to sample collection and to delay in transporting samples to the laboratory. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as a rapid diagnostic test for bacterial meningitis and compare these results with bacterial culture in three general hospitals in Mexico. During a 5-year period (2014-2018), a total of 512 CSF samples obtained from patients in whom infectious meningitis was suspected as initial clinical diagnosis were tested with RT-PCR with species-specific targets for the three pathogens. For Spn, 5.07% samples were RT-PCR positive; 0.39% for Nm and none for Hi. Only five RT-PCR Spn positive samples had a positive culture. Sensitivity and specificity estimates for RT-PCR are 100% and 95.46%, respectively. DNA amplification methods can provide better sensitive diagnostic tests than the reference standard, which is culture, particularly when antimicrobial treatment is initiated before clinical samples can be obtained.

Sepsis precoz, osteoartritis y meningitis: a propósito de un caso clínico / Early sepsis, osteoarthritis and meningitis: a clinical case / Sepse precoce, osteoartrite e meningite: relato de caso

Se expone el caso de un recién nacido que desarrolló sepsis connatal precoz a Streptococcus agalactiae, con meningitis aguda supurada y osteoartritis de rodilla izquierda. Como factor de riesgo la madre no tenía realizado el exudado rectovaginal, pesquisa que detecta la colonización por estreptococo del grupo B (EGB). Se aisló el germen en hemocultivo y en líquido de punción articular. Recibió tratamiento antibiótico adecuado a la sensibilidad del microorganismo y según pauta de sepsis con meningitis, evolucionando favorablemente. En este trabajo se describe la epidemiología de la sepsis neonatal y los cambios ocurridos luego de la implementación de la profilaxis antibiótica en el preparto.

We hereby present the case of a newborn with early connatal sepsis due to Streptococcus agalactiae, with acute suppurative meningitis and left knee osteoarthritis. As a risk factor, the mother had not performed the rectus vaginal exudate screening that detects colonization by Group B Streptococcus (GBS). The germ was isolated in blood culture and in joint puncture fluid. The patient received germ-sensitive antibiotic treatment for meningitis sepsis and evolved favorably. This paper describes the epidemiology of neonatal sepsis and the changes that have occurred after the administration of the antibiotic prophylaxis during pregnancy.

Apresentamos o caso de um recém-nascido com sepse neonatal precoce por Streptococcus agalactiae, com meningite supurativa aguda e osteoartrite de joelho esquerdo. Como fator de risco, a mãe não realizou teste de exsudato vaginal do reto que detecta a colonização por estreptococos do grupo B (SGB). O germe foi isolado em hemocultura e líquido de punção articular. A paciente recebeu tratamento com antibióticos germinativos para padrão meningite sepse e evoluiu favoravelmente. Este artigo descreve a epidemiologia da sepse neonatal e as mudanças ocorridas após a administração da profilaxia antibiótica durante a gravidez.

Surgical Treatment for Refractory Aggression after Bacterial Meningitis Complicated by Stroke: Case Report / Tratamento cirúrgico para agressividade refratária pós-meningite bacteriana complicada por acidente vascular encefálico: Relato de caso

Bacterial meningitis remains a public health problem. One of the complications of this group of diseases is cerebral ischemia, an important indicator of severity and an independent predictor of poor prognosis. It is already known that, in many cases, pathological aggressiveness is the result of brain abnormalities in individuals with mental illnesses. The indication of neurosurgeries for psychiatric disorders (NPDs) relies on numerous studies based on scientific evidence that correlate psychiatric illnesses with the limbic system and the pathophysiology of emotions. The development of sophisticated stereotactic target localization techniques, brain atlases, and imaging methods made stereotaxis possible, a procedure that increased the precision of neurosurgery and reduced brain damage. Nowadays, multiple targets can be treated during NPD, according to the particular characteristics of the patient. Moreover, the combination of lesions leads to more significant improvements compared with isolated procedures. The present study aimed to report the rare case of a patient with a history of bacterial meningitis who developed stroke and chronic pathological aggressiveness refractory to clinical treatment and underwent ablation using the multitarget stereotactic technique.

A meningite bacteriana continua sendo um problema de saúde pública. Uma das complicações deste grupo de doenças é a isquemia cerebral, um importante indicador de gravidade e um preditor independente de mau prognóstico. Já se sabe que, em muitos casos, a agressividade patológica é o resultado de anormalidades cerebrais em indivíduos com doença mental. A indicação das neurocirurgias para doenças psiquiátricas (NDPs) se fundamenta em inúmeros estudos com base em evidências científicas, os quais correlacionam as enfermidades psiquiátricas com o sistema límbico e a fisiopatologia das emoções. O desenvolvimento de técnicas sofisticadas de localização de alvos estereotáxicos, atlas cerebrais e métodos de imagem tornaram a estereotaxia possível, um procedimento que aumentou a precisão da neurocirurgia e reduziu os danos cerebrais. Atualmente, múltiplos alvos podem ser tratados durante a NDP, de acordo com as características individuais do paciente. Ademais, a combinação das lesões leva a melhorias mais significativas em comparação com os procedimentos isolados. O presente estudo teve como objetivo relatar o caso raro de uma paciente com histórico de meningite bacteriana que evoluiu para acidente vascular encefálico e agressividade patológica crônica refratária ao tratamento clínico e foi submetida a ablação utilizando a técnica estereotáxica de múltiplos alvos.

Meningitis tras técnica combinada raquídea-epidural para analgesia del parto: reporte de un caso / Case report of meningitis after combined spinal-epidural analgesia for labor

La meningitis pospunción es una complicación importante y poco frecuente de la anestesia neuroaxial. Describimos el caso de una paciente que ingresa para inducción del parto. Se realiza técnica espinal-epidural para analgesia del parto. Cursando 48 h de puerperio instala cefalea intensa, fotofobia y fiebre. No focalidad neurológica. Sin rigidez de nuca. Al examen, restos cavitarios que impresionan fétidos. Se plantea endometritis puerperal iniciando tratamiento antibiótico. Dado la persistencia del cuadro clínico se plantea punción lumbar para confirmación diagnóstica mediante análisis de líquido cefalorraquídeo; siendo éste turbio, por lo cual ingresa a cuidados intensivos con diagnóstico de meningitis aguda. Bacterióloga informa a los 10 días que el cultivo desarrolla estreptococo mitis oralis. La importancia esta dada porque la meningitis puede ser potencialmente devastadora si no se realiza un diagnóstico y tratamiento tempranos, existiendo medidas que se pueden adoptar para prevenir esta complicación.

Post-puncture meningitis is an important and rare complication of neuraxial anesthesia. We describe case of patient who is admitted for induction of labor. A spinal-epidural technique is performed for labor analgesia. During 48 hours of puerperium, she installed intense headache, photophobia and fever. No neurological focus. No stiff neck. On physical exam, cavitary remains that appear fetid. Puerperal endometritis arises starting antibiotic treatment. Given the persistence of the clinical picture, lumbar puncture is considered for diagnostic confirmation by analysis of cerebrospinal fluid; This being cloudy, for which he was admitted to Intensive Care with a diagnosis of acute meningitis. Bacteriologist reports 10 days later develops streptococcus mitis oralis. The importance is given because meningitis can be potentially devastating if early diagnosis and treatment is not performed, and there are measures that can be taken to prevent this complication.

Atypical Streptococcal Meningitis with Fatal Cerebrovascular Complications: A Case Report.

Bacterial meningitis is an infectious pathology that remains a public health challenge. The most frequent etiological agent is Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is also associated with higher rates of mortality and sequels. However, less is known about the clinical presentation of atypical non-pneumoniae streptococcal meningitis. Here, we studied a 23-year-old man with no medical background who presented with projectile vomiting, states of consciousness alteration, unilateral cranial nerve palsy, and meningeal signs. Neuroimaging showed tonsillar herniation, regions of empyema, right transverse and sigmoid sinuses thrombosis, and multiple arterial subcortical infarcts. Cerebrospinal fluid suggested bacterial infection; blood and abscess cultures were positive for Streptococcus constellatus. The patient received antibiotics with no clinical improvement. He deteriorated over the following days, the abolishment of brainstem reflexes was observed, and brain death was declared. Streptococcal meningitis produced by atypical species is a potential cause of lethal cerebrovascular complications, even in immunocompetent patients.

Bacterial meningitis in patients with sickle cell anemia in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil: a report on ten cases

ABSTRACT Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a common genetic blood disorder, affecting millions worldwide. According to current evidence, individuals with SCA have more than 300 times greater risk to develop bacterial meningitis (BM) than the general population. Herein we have described the characteristics of a series of BM cases in SCA patients in Salvador, Brazil, during 13 years of hospital-based surveillance. Data on clinical presentation, laboratory parameters and outcomes were collected retrospectively by reviewing medical records. From 1999 to 2011, ten SCA patients were identified among the 2511 cases of BM (10/2511; 0.40%). These patients were more likely to be male (90%) and to be younger (median age 8.5 years). The causative agents were Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 5) and Haemophilus influenzae (n = 1). The most frequent pneumococcal serotypes were 23 F (2 cases), 14, 18 F, 23B (one case each). Common medical complications were stroke (n = 3); heart failure (n = 2), respiratory problems (n = 2), renal dysfunctions (n = 2) and leg ulcers (n = 1). This study highlights the importance of S. pneumoniae as a causative agent of meningitis in individuals with SCA and shows the diversity of comorbidities associated with this condition.

Immunogenicity and safety of a quadrivalent meningococcal tetanus toxoid-conjugate vaccine (MenACYW-TT) in ≥56-year-olds: A Phase III randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Invasive meningococcal disease has a high mortality rate in individuals aged ≥56 years, but no vaccine is currently licensed in the USA for this age group. This study assessed the safety and immunogenicity of an investigational quadrivalent meningococcal tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine (MenACYW-TT) compared with a meningococcal quadrivalent polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4) in this age group. METHODS: This was a Phase III, modified double-blind, randomized, non-inferiority study (NCT02842866) across 35 clinical sites in the USA and Puerto Rico in individuals aged ≥56 years. A single dose of the MenACYW-TT (n = 451) or MPSV4 vaccine (n = 455) was administered on Day 0. A serum bactericidal assay with human (hSBA) and baby rabbit (rSBA) complement was used to measure antibodies against serogroups A, C, W, and Y test strains at baseline and Day 30. Safety data were collected up to six months post-vaccination. RESULTS: The seroresponse to MenACYW-TT was non-inferior to MPSV4 for each of the serogroups (A: 58.2% vs. 42.5%; C: 77.1% vs. 49.7%; W: 62.6% vs. 44.8%, Y: 74.4% vs. 43.4%, respectively). At Day 30, participants achieving hSBA titers ≥1:8 were higher for all serogroups after MenACYW-TT vs. MPSV4 (77.4-91.7 vs. 63.1-84.2%, respectively). No safety concerns were identified for either vaccine. CONCLUSION: MenACYW-TT was well-tolerated and immunogenic in ≥56-year-olds, offering the potential to replace MPSV4 in this age group.

Vacuna cubana antimeningocócica VA-MENGOC-BC®: Treinta años de uso y potencialidades vigentes / Cuban Meningococcal Vaccine VA-MENGOC-BC®: 30 Years of Use and Future Potential

La enfermedad meningocócica provoca cada año más de 500.000 casos y 85.000 muertes en el mundo y un 20 por ciento de los sobrevivientes sufre secuelas. En Cuba, en 1980, la incidencia llegó a 14,4 por 100.000 habitantes para todas las edades y fue declarada como el principal problema de salud del país. En niños menores de 1 año se reportaron más de 120 casos por 100.000 habitantes en algunas provincias. En 1989, investigadores en La Habana, Cuba desarrollaron una vacuna contra meningococo B y C; VA-MENGOC-BC®, la primera en el mundo eficaz contra el meningococo del serogrupo B. Su eficacia de 83 por ciento se demostró en un estudio de campo prospectivo a doble ciegas, aleatorizado, contra placebo. En su producción se empleó por primera vez la tecnología vesicular o proteoliposómica. Esta vacuna se usó en una campaña de vacunación masiva y posteriormente fue incluida en el Programa Ampliado de Inmunización en Cuba y tuvo un impacto acumulado sobre la incidencia de la enfermedad meningocócica del serogrupo B superior a 95 por ciento (93 por ciento-98 por ciento). La vacunación masiva y sistemática cambió el espectro de cepas del meningococo en los portadores asintomáticos sanos y la circulación de cepas en las poblaciones hacia fenotipos no virulentos. La enfermedad dejó de ser un problema de salud en el país. VA-MENGOC-BC® es la vacuna contra la enfermedad meningocócica del serogrupo B que se aplicó en el mayor número de susceptibles en el mundo. En América Latina se administraron más de 60 millones de dosis. En varios países donde se ha usado VA-MENGOC-BC®, circulan cepas diferentes a la vacunal y contra todas ellas se demostró un elevado porcentaje de efectividad (55%-98 por ciento en menores de 4 años y 73 por ciento-100 por ciento en mayores de 4 años). VA-MENGOC-BC® y su tecnología proteoliposómica han tenido impacto y mantienen su potencialidad, no solo en la enfermedad meningocócica, sino en el desarrollo de otras vacunas y adyuvantes(AU)

Every year, meningococcal infection by Neisseria meningitidis causes over 500,000 cases and 85,000 deaths in the world, with 20 percent of survivors suffering sequelae. In Cuba its incidence in 1980 reached 5.9 cases per 100,000 population; about 80 percent of cases were serogroup B, prompting health authorities to declare meningococcal disease the country's main public health problem. Several provinces reported over 120 cases per 100,000 children aged <1 year, overwhelmingly serogroup B. At that time, no vaccines existed with proven efficacy against N. meningitidis serogroup B, nor was there a vaccine candidate that could be successful in the short term. By 1989, researchers in Havana had developed a Cuban meningococcal B and C vaccine, VA-MENGOC-BC®, the world's first against serogroup B meningococcal disease. Its efficacy of 83 percent was demonstrated in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled field study. Vaccine production used vesicle or proteoliposome technology for the first time. The same year, the World Intellectual Property Organization awarded its gold medal to the main authors of the VA-MENGOC-BC® patent. The vaccine was used in a mass vaccination campaign and later included in Cuba's National Immunization Program, with a cumulative impact on incidence of serogroup B meningococcal disease greater than 95 percent (93 percent-98 percent). Mass, systematic vaccination shifted the spectrum of meningococcal strains in healthy asymptomatic carriers and strains circulating among population groups toward nonvirulent phenotypes. The disease ceased to be a public health problem in the country. VA-MENGOC-BC® is the most widely applied vaccine against serogroup B meningococcal disease in the world. Over 60 million doses have been administered in Latin America. In several countries where it has been applied, in which strains other than the vaccine-targeted strains circulate, VA-MENGOC-BC® has demonstrated effectiveness against all (55 percent-98 percent in children aged ≥4 years and 73 percent-100 percent in children aged >4 years). The vaccine and its proteoliposome technology have had an impact and continue to have potential, not only for meningococcal disease, but also for development of other vaccines and adjuvants(AU)

Application of Cervical Vestibular-Evoked Myogenic Potentials in Adults with Moderate to Profound Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Preliminary Study

Abstract Introduction The cochlea and the vestibular receptors are closely related in terms of anatomy and phylogeny. Patients with moderate to profound sensorineural hearing loss (MPSHL) should have their vestibular organ functions tested. Objective To evaluate the incidence of vestibular abnormalities in patients with MPSHL and to study the correlation between the etiology of hearing loss (HL) and a possible damage to the labyrinth. Methods A case-control retrospective study was performed. In the case group, 20 adults with MPSHL of known etiology were included. The control group was composed of 15 adults with normal hearing. The case group was divided into 4 subgroups based on the etiology (bacterial meningitis, virus, vascular disease, congenital). Cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs) were used to rate the saccular function and lower vestibular nerve. Results The study was performed in 70 ears, and it highlighted the presence of early biphasic P1-N1 complex in 29 (71.5%) out of 40 ears in the study group, and in all of the 30 ears in the control group (p = 0.001). Regarding the presence or absence of cVEMPs among the four subgroups of patients with MPSHL, the data were statistically significant (p < 0.001). The comparison between the latencies and amplitude of P1-N1 in case and control groups from other studies and in the four subgroups of cases in the present study did not detect statistically significant differences. Conclusion The present study demonstrates that patients with MPSHL have a high incidence of damage to the labyrinthine organs, and it increases the current knowledge about the etiopathogenesis of sensorineural HL, which is often of unknown nature.

Application of Cervical Vestibular-Evoked Myogenic Potentials in Adults with Moderate to Profound Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Preliminary Study.

Introduction The cochlea and the vestibular receptors are closely related in terms of anatomy and phylogeny. Patients with moderate to profound sensorineural hearing loss (MPSHL) should have their vestibular organ functions tested. Objective To evaluate the incidence of vestibular abnormalities in patients with MPSHL and to study the correlation between the etiology of hearing loss (HL) and a possible damage to the labyrinth. Methods A case-control retrospective study was performed. In the case group, 20 adults with MPSHL of known etiology were included. The control group was composed of 15 adults with normal hearing. The case group was divided into 4 subgroups based on the etiology (bacterial meningitis, virus, vascular disease, congenital). Cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs) were used to rate the saccular function and lower vestibular nerve. Results The study was performed in 70 ears, and it highlighted the presence of early biphasic P1-N1 complex in 29 (71.5%) out of 40 ears in the study group, and in all of the 30 ears in the control group ( p = 0.001). Regarding the presence or absence of cVEMPs among the four subgroups of patients with MPSHL, the data were statistically significant ( p < 0.001). The comparison between the latencies and amplitude of P1-N1 in case and control groups from other studies and in the four subgroups of cases in the present study did not detect statistically significant differences. Conclusion The present study demonstrates that patients with MPSHL have a high incidence of damage to the labyrinthine organs, and it increases the current knowledge about the etiopathogenesis of sensorineural HL, which is often of unknown nature.

Bacterial meningitis in patients with sickle cell anemia in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil: a report on ten cases.

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a common genetic blood disorder, affecting millions worldwide. According to current evidence, individuals with SCA have more than 300 times greater risk to develop bacterial meningitis (BM) than the general population. Herein we have described the characteristics of a series of BM cases in SCA patients in Salvador, Brazil, during 13 years of hospital-based surveillance. Data on clinical presentation, laboratory parameters and outcomes were collected retrospectively by reviewing medical records. From 1999 to 2011, ten SCA patients were identified among the 2511 cases of BM (10/2511; 0.40%). These patients were more likely to be male (90%) and to be younger (median age 8.5 years). The causative agents were Streptococcus pneumoniae (n=5) and Haemophilus influenzae (n=1). The most frequent pneumococcal serotypes were 23F (2 cases), 14, 18F, 23B (one case each). Common medical complications were stroke (n=3); heart failure (n=2), respiratory problems (n=2), renal dysfunctions (n=2) and leg ulcers (n=1). This study highlights the importance of S. pneumoniae as a causative agent of meningitis in individuals with SCA and shows the diversity of comorbidities associated with this condition.

Estimation of the real burden of invasive meningococcal disease in Argentina.

Among the different existing types of bacterial meningitis, the one caused by Neisseria meningitidis is the main presentation of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD). IMD is a significant public health concern and has a reported incidence rate in Argentina of 0.44 cases per 100 000 inhabitants in 2015. However, the actual incidence is thought to be higher as passive surveillance systems neither report nor identify 100% of all cases. The aim of this study is to develop an estimation of the burden of IMD in Argentina closer to reality by adjusting/correcting several limitations observed in the surveillance data available. A retrospective observational study has been performed using four Argentinean national databases recording the number of IMD cases and deaths, serogroups of N. meningitidis and ages, between 2007 to 2016. The reported data were adjusted to account for underreporting and to also integrate the cases missed due to well-known limitations associated with the diagnosis of N. meningitidis detection methods. Data were further analysed by serogroups of N. meningitidis and by age groups. After these adjustments, the potential numbers of IMD cases and IMD-related deaths are estimated to be 3.1 and 1.9 higher than reported, respectively. The study corrects the previous underestimation of the disease burden and provides expectedly more robust estimates aligned with international evidence and highlights the importance of active surveillance, with high-quality methods, for a better definition of preventive strategies against IMD in Argentina.

Historia de la meningitis bacteriana en Cuba: siglo XIX al XXI

Introducción: La meningitis bacteriana aún constituye un importante problema de salud mundial. En Cuba hay limitadas investigaciones con una perspectiva histórica de esta temática. Objetivo: Describir el comportamiento de la meningitis bacteriana en Cuba (siglo XIX-XXI). Material y Métodos: Estudio descriptivo (corte histórico) entre finales de 1800 y 2017, utilizando el método histórico-lógico y un análisis deductivo-inductivo de múltiples fuentes bibliográficas. Desarrollo: La primera alusión a la meningitis bacteriana en Cuba data de 1877. También se sugiere su probable importación por el ejército de ocupación norteamericano en 1899. En 1901 se aisló el meningococo de Weichselbaum del líquido cefalorraquídeo, lo que constituye, probablemente, su primera notificación en Cuba. Iniciado el siglo XX, se reportan casos aislados y brotes hasta 1976 cuando inicia la mayor epidemia de Enfermedad Meningocócica (serogrupos C y B). En 1979 se vacuna contra el C. En 1980 se implementa una vigilancia epidemiológica especial. Se desarrolla la vacuna cubana VA-MENGOC-BC® (1984) que se usa masivamente (1987) y se contribuye al control, incluyéndose en el Programa Nacional de Inmunizaciones (1991). Haemophilus Influenzae pasa a ser la principal bacteria causante de meningitis bacteriana hasta 1999 en que se aplican vacunas (Vaxem-Hib® y QuimiHib®) y se controla. Su nicho ecológico es ocupado por neumococo hasta ahora. Conclusiones: Desde fines del siglo XIX hasta la segunda mitad del XX la meningitis bacteriana en Cuba se manifestaba como casos aislados y brotes. Durante y después de una gran epidemia, se implementan estrategias preventivas efectivas, incluidas dos vacunas cubanas contra estas enfermedades, que revierten el comportamiento a endemia muy baja hasta la actualidad.

Introduction: Bacterial meningitis remains an important health problem worldwide. In Cuba, there are limited research studies about this issue from a historical perspective. Objective: To describe the behavior of this disease in Cuba (19th - 21st centuries). Material and Methods: A descriptive historical study was carried out between the ends of 1800-2017, using the historical-logical method and a deductive-inductive analysis of multiple bibliographical sources. Development: The first reference to bacterial meningitis in Cuba was made in 1877. The probable introduction of the disease by the US occupation army in 1899 is also considered. In 1901, the meningococci of Weichselbaum was isolated from cerebrospinal fluid, which was probably it first report in Cuba. At the beginning of the 20th century, isolated cases and outbreaks were reported until 1976, when the biggest and larger invasive meningococcal disease began (serogroups C, B). Vaccination against serogroup C started in 1979. In 1980, a special epidemiological surveillance was implemented. The Cuban vaccine VA-MENGOC-BC® against the disease was developed in 1984, which was massively used in 1987. The vaccine contributed to the control of the disease and was included in the National Immunization Program in 1991. Haemophilus Influenzae became the main causative bacterial agent of meningitis until 1999, when the implementation of massive vaccination (Vaxem-Hib® and QuimiHib®) controlled disease. Up to the present, its ecological niche is occupied by pneumococci. Conclusions: From the end of the 19th century to the second half of the 20th century, bacterial meningitis in Cuba behaved as isolated cases and outbreaks. Effective preventive strategies were implemented during and after a huge epidemic, including Cuban vaccines against the disease, that pass on its behavior to a very low endemic disease up to the moment.