Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus: an emergent cause of meningoencephalitis in Northeastern Brazil.

This study describes an outbreak of Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus infections that caused meningoencephalitis and bacteremia related to unpasteurized milk consumption in northeastern Brazil. Epidemiological investigations and a brief literature review were conducted. Strains with possible neurotropism had not been identified in Brazil before these cases; however, in 2023, another case of meningoencephalitis caused by Streptococcus equi sp. zooepidemicus was described, revealing the need to maintain surveillance and highlighting that these neurotropic strains continue to circulate in the environment.

Granulomatous meningoencephalitis and blindness associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex infection in a senile female chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes).

A 40-year old female chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) developed hyporexia, weight loss, followed by progressive and complete blindness. Tomography demonstrated an intracranial mass in the rostroventral brain involving the optic chiasm, with a presumptive diagnosis of neoplasm. However, histopathology revealed a granulomatous meningoencephalitis, and tissue samples tested positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Experiencia de dos años con el uso de panel de RPC múltiple de meningitis-encefalitis en pacientes pediátricos en un hospital de tercer nivel en Argentina / Two-year experience with the multiple PCR panel meningitis-encephalitis panel in children in a third level hospital in Argentina

INTRODUCCIÓN: La meningitis bacteriana aguda (MBA) y la encefalitis son infecciones graves y el retraso en el tratamiento determina mayor morbimortalidad. En 2015 la FDA. aprobó un panel de RPC múltiple, BioFire® Filmarray® meningitis-encefalitis (FA-ME), que desde el 2019 se encuentra disponible en nuestro hospital. OBJETIVOS: Estimar número de determinaciones positivas mediante FA-ME, evaluar concordancia con cultivo convencional (CC) y describir si FA-ME permitió realizar cambios en el tratamiento. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo, descriptivo, realizado durante 2019-2021 en el Hospital de Niños Pedro Elizalde. Se revisaron reportes de niños con meningitis, encefalitis y meningoencefalitis y líquido-cefalorraquídeo patológico a quienes se les realizó FA-ME. RESULTADOS: Se incluyó a 32 niños, edad promedio: 48 meses. Fueron positivas 13 determinaciones de FA-ME: siete bacterias y seis virus. En dos MBA obtuvo desarrollo mediante CC. Con FA-ME se ajustó el tratamiento en dos MBA y se acortó el tratamiento intravenoso (IV). DISCUSIÓN: Nuestro trabajo permitió conocer la etiología de cinco MBA con cultivo negativo, de las cuales dos habían recibido antimicrobianos, administrar quimioprofilaxis a contactos epidemiológicos, acortar el tratamiento IV y suministrar menos dosis de aciclovir; en concordancia con la literatura médica. CONCLUSIONES: FA-ME permitió identificar la etiología en cinco MBA que no desarrollaron en CC, ajustar tratamientos empíricos inadecuados y acortar duración del tratamiento parenteral.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial meningitis and encephalitis are life-threatening infections, a delay in its treatment is associated with high mortality. In 2015, FDA approved the Multiplex PCR FilmArray™ meningitis/encephalitis syndromic panel (FA-MEP), and it is available in our hospital since 2019. AIM: To estimate the number of positive FA-MEP, to evaluate the correlation to conventional culture (CC) results and to describe if the FA-MEP technology allowed changes in the treatment. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of children with meningitis, encephalitis and meningoencephalitis and pathological cerebrospinal fluid analysis between 2019-2021, who were subject to FA-MEP testing at the Pedro Elizalde Children's Hospital. RESULTS: 32 children, mean age: 48 months. 11 patients had positive FA-ME tests: 7 bacterial, 6 viral. 2 patients correlated with CC. Based on the FAMEP results, treatment was adjusted in 2 bacterial meningitis and the duration of intravenous treatment was shortened. DISCUSSION: Our study allowed to establish the etiology of 5 culture negative bacterial meningitis, (2 had prior antibiotics), administer chemoprophylaxis to close contacts, and to administer fewer doses of acyclovir. CONCLUSIONS: The FA-MEP allowed us to identify 5 bacterial meningitis that tested negative by CC and early adjustment of inappropriate empirical antibiotics and to shorten the duration of parenteral treatments.

Clinical Features, Diagnosis, and Outcome of Encephalitis in French Guiana.

The aim of our study was to describe the clinical features, the etiologies, and the factors associated with poor outcome of encephalitis in French Guiana. Our study was retrospective, including all cases of encephalitis hospitalized in the Cayenne General Hospital, from January 2007 to July 2017. Patients were included through the 2013 encephalitis consortium criteria and the outcome was evaluated using the Glasgow outcome scale at 3 months from the diagnosis of encephalitis. We included 108 patients, giving an approximate incidence rate of four cases/100,000 inhabitants/year. The origin of the encephalitis was diagnosed in 81 cases (75%), and 72 of them (66.7%) were from an infectious origin. The most common infectious causes were Cryptococcus sp. (18.5%) independently of the immune status, Toxoplasma gondii (13.9%), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (5.5%). In the follow-up, 48 patients (46.6%) had poor outcome. Independent risk factors associated with poor outcome at 3 months were "coming from inside area of the region" (P = 0.036, odds ratio [OR] = 4.19; CI 95% = 1.09-16.06), need for mechanical ventilation (P = 0.002, OR = 5.92; CI 95% = 1.95-17.95), and age ≥ 65 years (P = 0.049, OR = 3.99; CI 95% = 1.01-15.89). The most identified cause of encephalitis in French Guiana was Cryptococcus. The shape of the local epidemiology highlights the original infectious situation with some local specific pathogens.

[Meningoencefalitis: etiología infecciosa en pacientes pediátricos de un hospital de referencia]. / Meningoencephalitis: infectious etiology in pediatric patients at a reference hospital.

Introducción: Las causas de meningoencefalitis, meningitis o encefalitis pueden ser infecciosas o no infecciosas. Para el diagnóstico microbiológico se requieren cultivos y pruebas moleculares. El objetivo del estudio fue describir las causas infecciosas de meningoencefalitis y su presentación clínica. Métodos: Estudio transversal realizado en el Hospital Civil de Guadalajara Dr. Juan I. Menchaca. Se incluyeron pacientes mayores de 28 días de vida con síndrome de meningitis, encefalitis o meningoencefalitis. Se identificó la etiología infecciosa mediante cultivos, tinciones de Gram y pruebas moleculares de líquido cefalorraquídeo. Se compararon las características de pacientes con y sin diagnóstico etiológico. Resultados: Se incluyeron en el estudio 50 pacientes con meningoencefalitis (n = 25), meningitis (n = 19) o encefalitis (n = 6). La mediana de edad fue de un año y el 62% de los pacientes fueron de sexo masculino. Se realizó diagnóstico etiológico infeccioso en el 42%: el 65.2% (n = 15) se debió a virus y el 34.8% (n = 8) a bacterias. En los pacientes con diagnóstico etiológico, se presentó un mayor número de leucocitos en líquido cefalorraquídeo (92 leu/mm3 vs. 12 leu/mm3, p = 0.001). Fue más frecuente el antecedente de gastroenteritis (razón de momios [RM]: 3.5; intervalo de confianza al 95% [IC 95%]: 1.007-12.1; p = 0.04) y ante la exploración, fue más frecuente la rigidez de cuello (RM: 3.8; IC 95%: 1-15.2; p = 0.04). Conclusiones: El 42% de los pacientes con meningitis, encefalitis o meningoencefalitis tuvieron diagnóstico etiológico infeccioso. La causa más frecuente fue el enterovirus. Background: The etiologies of meningoencephalitis, meningitis or encephalitis may be infectious or non-infectious. For the microbiological diagnosis it is necessary to perform cultures and molecular tests. The objective of this study was to describe the infectious causes of meningoencephalitis and their clinical presentation. Methods: Cross-sectional study performed at the Hospital Civil de Guadalajara Dr. Juan I. Menchaca. Patients older than 28 days of life with meningitis, encephalitis or meningoencephalitis syndrome were included in the study. Infectious etiology was identified through cultures, Gram stains, and molecular tests of cerebrospinal fluid. The characteristics of patients with and without etiological diagnosis were compared. Results: Fifty patients with meningoencephalitis (n = 25), meningitis (n = 19) or encephalitis (n = 6) were included in the study. The mean age was one year and 62% were male. An infectious etiological diagnosis was performed in 42%; 65.2 % (n = 15) were viruses and 34.8% (n = 8) bacteria. In patients with etiological diagnosis, a higher number of leukocytes were found in cerebrospinal fluid (92 leu/mm3 vs. 12 leu/mm3, p = 0.001); the history of gastroenteritis was more frequent (odds ratio [OR]: 3.5; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.007-12.1; p = 0.04) and upon examination, neck stiffness was more common (OR: 3.8; 95% CI: 1-15.2; p = 0.04). Conclusions: 42 % of the patients with meningitis, encephalitis or meningoencephalitis had an infectious etiological diagnosis; the most frequent cause was enterovirus.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae: manifestaciones neurológicas y controversias diagnósticas. A propósito de un caso / Mycoplasma pneumoniae: neurologic manifestations and diagnostic controversies. A case report

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) es el agente causal de un 30% de las manifestaciones respiratorias de la población general. La neumonía ocupa el primer lugar dentro de este grupo. Las manifestaciones neurológicas representan las formas más frecuentes de presentación clínica extrapulmonar (40%). Las encefalitis y meningoencefalitis son las formas más habituales de sintomatología neurológica asociada a infección por Mp. La presentación de más de una variante clínica en un mismo paciente asociada a primoinfección por Mp es posible. El diagnóstico serológico plantea, habitualmente, controversias en su interpretación. A partir del caso de una niña de 7 años con inyección conjuntival, adenopatía cervical, rash descamativo y fotofobia con "pseudoedema de papila bilateral", que desarrolla durante su evolución parálisis facial periférica y meningitis aséptica, se analizarán las controversias que se plantean en relación con la interpretación diagnóstica asociada al compromiso neurológico por Mp.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) is responsible for 30% of the respiratory manifestations of the general population. Pneumonia occupies the first place within this group. Among the extra-respiratory forms (40%), the neurological ones are the most frequent. Meningoencephalitis and aseptic meningitis are the most common. The presentation of more than one clinical variant in the same patient associated with primoinfection by Mp is possible. In relation to the serological diagnosis, controversies in interpretation sometimes occur. This is a 7-year-old girl with conjunctival injection, cervical adenopathy, photophobia with bilateral papilla pseudoedema, and scaly rash that develops peripheral facial paralysis and aseptic meningitis. We will discuss diagnostic controversies.

Meningoencefalitis: etiología infecciosa en pacientes pediátricos de un hospital de referencia / Meningoencephalitis: infectious etiology in pediatric patients at a reference hospital

Resumen Introducción: Las causas de meningoencefalitis, meningitis o encefalitis pueden ser infecciosas o no infecciosas. Para el diagnóstico microbiológico se requieren cultivos y pruebas moleculares. El objetivo del estudio fue describir las causas infecciosas de meningoencefalitis y su presentación clínica. Métodos: Estudio transversal realizado en el Hospital Civil de Guadalajara Dr. Juan I. Menchaca. Se incluyeron pacientes mayores de 28 días de vida con síndrome de meningitis, encefalitis o meningoencefalitis. Se identificó la etiología infecciosa mediante cultivos, tinciones de Gram y pruebas moleculares de líquido cefalorraquídeo. Se compararon las características de pacientes con y sin diagnóstico etiológico. Resultados: Se incluyeron en el estudio 50 pacientes con meningoencefalitis (n = 25), meningitis (n = 19) o encefalitis (n = 6). La mediana de edad fue de un año y el 62% de los pacientes fueron de sexo masculino. Se realizó diagnóstico etiológico infeccioso en el 42%: el 65.2% (n = 15) se debió a virus y el 34.8% (n = 8) a bacterias. En los pacientes con diagnóstico etiológico, se presentó un mayor número de leucocitos en líquido cefalorraquídeo (92 leu/mm3 vs. 12 leu/mm3, p = 0.001). Fue más frecuente el antecedente de gastroenteritis (razón de momios [RM]: 3.5; intervalo de confianza al 95% [IC 95%]: 1.007-12.1; p = 0.04) y ante la exploración, fue más frecuente la rigidez de cuello (RM: 3.8; IC 95%: 1-15.2; p = 0.04). Conclusiones: El 42% de los pacientes con meningitis, encefalitis o meningoencefalitis tuvieron diagnóstico etiológico infeccioso. La causa más frecuente fue el enterovirus.

Abstract Background: The etiologies of meningoencephalitis, meningitis or encephalitis may be infectious or non-infectious. For the microbiological diagnosis it is necessary to perform cultures and molecular tests. The objective of this study was to describe the infectious causes of meningoencephalitis and their clinical presentation. Methods: Cross-sectional study performed at the Hospital Civil de Guadalajara Dr. Juan I. Menchaca. Patients older than 28 days of life with meningitis, encephalitis or meningoencephalitis syndrome were included in the study. Infectious etiology was identified through cultures, Gram stains, and molecular tests of cerebrospinal fluid. The characteristics of patients with and without etiological diagnosis were compared. Results: Fifty patients with meningoencephalitis (n = 25), meningitis (n = 19) or encephalitis (n = 6) were included in the study. The mean age was one year and 62% were male. An infectious etiological diagnosis was performed in 42%; 65.2 % (n = 15) were viruses and 34.8% (n = 8) bacteria. In patients with etiological diagnosis, a higher number of leukocytes were found in cerebrospinal fluid (92 leu/mm3 vs. 12 leu/mm3, p = 0.001); the history of gastroenteritis was more frequent (odds ratio [OR]: 3.5; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.007-12.1; p = 0.04) and upon examination, neck stiffness was more common (OR: 3.8; 95% CI: 1-15.2; p = 0.04). Conclusions: 42 % of the patients with meningitis, encephalitis or meningoencephalitis had an infectious etiological diagnosis; the most frequent cause was enterovirus.

[Mycoplasma pneumoniae: neurologic manifestations and diagnostic controversies. A case report]. / Mycoplasma pneumoniae: manifestaciones neurológicas y controversias diagnósticas. A propósito de un caso.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) is responsible for 30% of the respiratory manifestations of the general population. Pneumonia occupies the first place within this group. Among the extra-respiratory forms (40%), the neurological ones are the most frequent. Meningoencephalitis and aseptic meningitis are the most common. The presentation of more than one clinical variant in the same patient associated with primoinfection by Mp is possible. In relation to the serological diagnosis, controversies in interpretation sometimes occur. This is a 7-year-old girl with conjunctival injection, cervical adenopathy, photophobia with bilateral papilla pseudoedema, and scaly rash that develops peripheral facial paralysis and aseptic meningitis. We will discuss diagnostic controversies.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) es el agente causal de un 30% de las manifestaciones respiratorias de la población general. La neumonía ocupa el primer lugar dentro de este grupo. Las manifestaciones neurológicas representan las formas más frecuentes de presentación clínica extrapulmonar (40%). Las encefalitis y meningoencefalitis son las formas más habituales de sintomatología neurológica asociada a infección por Mp. La presentación de más de una variante clínica en un mismo paciente asociada a primoinfección por Mp es posible. El diagnóstico serológico plantea, habitualmente, controversias en su interpretación. A partir del caso de una niña de 7 años con inyección conjuntival, adenopatía cervical, rash descamativo y fotofobia con "pseudoedema de papila bilateral", que desarrolla durante su evolución parálisis facial periférica y meningitis aséptica, se analizarán las controversias que se plantean en relación con la interpretación diagnóstica asociada al compromiso neurológico por Mp.

Cryptococcal dissemination to the central nervous system requires the vacuolar calcium transporter Pmc1.

Cryptococcus neoformans is a basidiomycetous yeast and the cause of cryptococcosis in immunocompromised individuals. The most severe form of the disease is meningoencephalitis, which is one of the leading causes of death in HIV/AIDS patients. In order to access the central nervous system, C. neoformans relies on the activity of certain virulence factors such as urease, which allows transmigration through the blood-brain barrier. In this study, we demonstrate that the calcium transporter Pmc1 enables C. neoformans to penetrate the central nervous system, because the pmc1 null mutant failed to infect and to survive within the brain parenchyma in a murine systemic infection model. To investigate potential alterations in transmigration pathways in these mutants, global expression profiling of the pmc1 mutant strain was undertaken, and genes associated with urease, the Ca2+ -calcineurin pathway, and capsule assembly were identified as being differentially expressed. Also, a decrease in urease activity was observed in the calcium transporter null mutants. Finally, we demonstrate that the transcription factor Crz1 regulates urease activity and that the Ca2+ -calcineurin signalling pathway positively controls the transcription of calcium transporter genes and factors related to transmigration.

[Not Available]. / Meningoencefalitis tuberculosa con quistes aracnoideos medulares y siringomielia aguda.

TITLE: Meningoencefalitis tuberculosa con quistes aracnoideos medulares y siringomielia aguda.

Corticosteroids for the management of severe intracranial hypertension in meningoencephalitis caused by Cryptococcus gattii: A case report and review.

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in meningitis caused by Cryptococcus gattii in immunocompetent patients after initiation of antifungal therapy appears to be the result of paradoxical antifungal treatment-induced clinical deterioration due to improved local immune responses to cryptococcal organisms. Recent anecdotal reports have suggested a favorable clinical response to corticosteroids in select patients with C. gattii central nervous system (CNS) infections. In this report, we describe a 65-year-old patient with meningoencephalitis caused by C. gattii who developed persistent intracranial hypertension and was successfully managed with antifungal therapy, repeated lumbar puncture and corticosteroids. Our observations suggest a possible benefit of dexamethasone in the management of select cases of C. gattii CNS infection with intracranial hypertension. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the long-term use of steroids in select patients with C. gattii with intracranial hypertension.

Paciente inmunocompetente con criptococosis cerebral: reporte de un caso.

A 14-year-old female, presenting sudden and progressive holocraneal headache along with incoercible vomiting arrived to emergency room. Acute confusional state and meningoencephalitis syndrome where identified. Brain computed tomography-scan with normal results was performed. Lumbar puncture with crystal-clear cerebrospinal fluid was obtained: low glucose, elevated proteins and cell-count of 15/mm. China-Ink and Criptococcus neoformans culture both positive. Viral, lupus-anticoagulant, and HIV tests negative. Fluconazole 200 mg/kg/day, amphotericin-B 0.7 mg/kg/day, dexamethasone 1 mg/kg/day were prescribed. 48-h later evolved to cerebral edema, multiple-organ-failure and death. Hereby we present a Cryptococcus spp. infection case report, addressing the public health challenge and vulnerability of immunocompromised patients in Mexico.

Histoplasmosis en el sistema nervioso central en una paciente pediátrica inmunocompetente / Central nervous system histoplasmosis in an immunocompetent pediatric patient

La histoplasmosis en el sistema nervioso central es una enfermedad poco frecuente, con mayor prevalencia en pacientes inmunosuprimidos, secundaria a enfermedad diseminada (5%-10%), con una alta tasa de mortalidad en caso de demorarse el diagnóstico y su tratamiento. Presentamos a una niña de 12 años previamente sana, que desarrolló meningoencefalitis por Histoplasma capsulatum sin evidencia de enfermedad generalizada. La paciente era oriunda de una región infestada por murciélagos de Tucumán, República Argentina, y desarrolló, durante 18 meses previos a su internación, cefalea y síndrome febril. Las imágenes del sistema nervioso central mostraron meningoencefalitis, que sugirió tuberculosis. Recibió tratamiento antibiótico y tuberculostático, sin mejoría. Luego recibió anfotericina B liposomal durante 6 semanas. Neurológicamente, mejoró de manera considerable. Por último, el cultivo de líquido cefalorraquídeo permitió aislar Histoplasma capsulatum. Se discuten las dificultades diagnósticas y el tratamiento de neurohistoplasmosis en pacientes inmunocompetentes, como también se intenta alertar acerca de la presencia de una cepa de Histoplasma capsulatum con afinidad por el sistema nervioso central.

Neurohistoplasmosis is a rare disease, most prevalent in immunosuppressed patients, secondary to disseminated disease with a high mortality rate when diagnosis and treatment are delayed. We report a previously healthy 12 year old girl, from a bat infested region of Tucuman Province, Argentine Republic, who developed meningoencephalitis due to Histoplasma capsulatum. Eighteen months prior to admission the patient started with headaches and intermittent fever. The images of the central nervous system showed meningoencephalitis suggestive of tuberculosis. She received antibiotics and tuberculostatic medications without improvement. Liposomal amphotericin B was administered for six weeks. The patient's clinical status improved remarkably. Finally the culture of cerebral spinal fluid was positive for micelial form of Histoplasma capsulatum. The difficulties surrounding the diagnosis and treatment of neurohistoplasmosis in immunocompetent patients are discussed in this manuscript, as it also intends to alert to the presence of a strain of Histoplasma capsulatum with affinity for the central nervous system.

Central nervous system histoplasmosis in an immunocompetent pediatric patient. / Histoplasmosis en el sistema nervioso central en una paciente pediátrica inmunocompetente.

Neurohistoplasmosis is a rare disease, most prevalent in immunosuppressed patients, secondary to disseminated disease with a high mortality rate when diagnosis and treatment are delayed. We report a previously healthy 12 year old girl, from a bat infested region of Tucuman Province, Argentine Republic, who developed meningoencephalitis due to Histoplasma capsulatum. Eighteen months prior to admission the patient started with headaches and intermittent fever. The images of the central nervous system showed meningoencephalitis suggestive of tuberculosis. She received antibiotics and tuberculostatic medications without improvement. Liposomal amphotericin B was administered for six weeks. The patient's clinical status improved remarkably. Finally the culture of cerebral spinal fluid was positive for micelial form of Histoplasma capsulatum. The difficulties surrounding the diagnosis and treatment of neurohistoplasmosis in immunocompetent patients are discussed in this manuscript, as it also intends to alert to the presence of a strain of Histoplasma capsulatum with affinity for the central nervous system.

La histoplasmosis en el sistema nervioso central es una enfermedad poco frecuente, con mayor prevalencia en pacientes inmunosuprimidos, secundaria a enfermedad diseminada (5%-10%), con una alta tasa de mortalidad en caso de demorarse el diagnóstico y su tratamiento. Presentamos a una niña de 12 años previamente sana, que desarrolló meningoencefalitis por Histoplasma capsulatum sin evidencia de enfermedad generalizada. La paciente era oriunda de una región infestada por murciélagos de Tucumán, República Argentina, y desarrolló, durante 18 meses previos a su internación, cefalea y síndrome febril. Las imágenes del sistema nervioso central mostraron meningoencefalitis, que sugirió tuberculosis. Recibió tratamiento antibiótico y tuberculostático, sin mejoría. Luego recibió anfotericina B liposomal durante 6 semanas. Neurológicamente, mejoró de manera considerable. Por último, el cultivo de líquido cefalorraquídeo permitió aislar Histoplasma capsulatum. Se discuten las dificultades diagnósticas y el tratamiento de neurohistoplasmosis en pacientes inmunocompetentes, como también se intenta alertar acerca de la presencia de una cepa de Histoplasma capsulatum con afinidad por el sistema nervioso central.

[Clinical problems in medical mycology: Problem number 49]. / Problemas clínicos en micología médica: problema número 49.

The case of a 59-year-old female born in Buenos Aires (Argentina) is presented. She had been diagnosed with HIV in 2007 and received highly active antiretroviral therapy until 2011; she also suffered from diabetes type 2. She had received empirical treatment (pyrimethamine-clindamycin) for cerebral toxoplasmosis. Fifteen days later she suffered a drug-induced skin disorder and was treated in the Dermatology Service of the Hospital Muñiz with corticosteroids. After five weeks she was readmitted to the Infectious Disease Unit due to asthenia, weight loss, left hip pain and weakness in all four limbs. Septic arthritis and aseptic hip necrosis were ruled out. Blood cultures were positive for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The patient received intravenous antibiotics, but before being discharged Acinetobacter baumannii was isolated from blood, catheter and urine cultures, and a new series of antibiotics were prescribed. On the 3rd day she presented encephalic facies, changes of behaviour and disorientation, without nuchal rigidity, Kernig and Brudzinski signs or focal signs. An X-ray computed tomography did not show parenchymal lesions. A yeast identified as Candida albicans was isolated in a cerebrospinal fluid culture. The same yeast was recovered in a new cerebrospinal fluid sample. The isolate was susceptible to amphotericin B and susceptible dose dependent to fluconazole. The patient was treated with amphotericin B (0.7mg/kg plus 800mg fluconazole daily). Three weeks later, new cerebrospinal fluid cultures were negative. Unfortunately, the patient died soon afterwards.

Meningoencefalitis bacteriana en niños menores de 15 años / Bacterial meningoencephalitis affecting children under 15 years of age

Introducción: la meningoencefalitis bacteriana es una enfermedad de distribución universal que afecta individuos de todas las edades, pero especialmente a los niños. Objetivo: identificar las características clínicas y microbiológicas de la meningoencefalitis bacteriana. Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo en niños menores de 15 años ingresados en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos del Hospital Pediátrico Luis Ángel Milanés Tamayo, de Bayamo, Granma, en el periodo comprendido desde el 1ro. de enero de 2008 al 31 de diciembre de 2012. El universo estuvo conformado por 22 pacientes egresados con el diagnóstico de meningoencefalitis bacteriana, y la muestra por 18 casos que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión y exclusión. Resultados: predominó el grupo de edad de 1 a 4 años con el 50 por ciento; la desnutrición se presentó en 5 de los casos estudiados. La media del tiempo transcurrido entre el inicio de los síntomas hasta el diagnóstico, y al inicio del tratamiento médico fue de ±3 días (DS: 1,129); los síntomas inespecíficos y la hipertensión endocraneana se presentaron en un 38,9 por ciento y 88,8 por ciento respectivamente. El Streptococcus pneumoniae fue el germen más frecuentemente aislado en el estudio del líquido cefalorraquídeo, y el edema cerebral la complicación más frecuente de la enfermedad. Conclusiones: la enfermedad estudiada afectó las edades más tempranas, con predominio de los síntomas de hipertensión endocraneana, y una celularidad elevada, y el tiempo entre el inicio de los síntomas al diagnóstico y al tratamiento médico fue corto(AU)

Introduction: bacterial meningoencephalitis is a universal disease affecting individual of all ages, but particularly the children. Objective: to identify the clinical and microbiological characteristics of the bacterial meningoencephalitis. Methods: a retrospective and descriptive study was conducted in children aged less than 15 years, who were admitted to the pediatric intensive care service of Luis Angel Milanes Tamayo pediatric hospital located in Bayamo, Gramma province, in the period of January 1st 2008 to December 31st 2012. The universe of study was 22 patients discharged from hospital after diagnosis of bacterial meningoencephalitis, and the sample was composed by 18 cases who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: the one to four years age group predominated, accounting for 50 por ciento and malnutrition was present in 5 of the studied cases. The mean time elapsed from the starting of symptoms to the diagnosis, and at the beginning of the medical therapy was ±3 days (SD: 1.129); the non-specific symptoms and the endocranial hypertension were observed in 38.9 and 88.8 percent, respectively. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most frequently isolated germ in the cerebrospinal fluid study, and the cerebral edema was the commonest complication. Conclusions: the studied disease affected the smaller ages, in which the endocranial hypertension symptoms and raised cellularity predominated, and the time elapsed from the beginning of the symptoms to the diagnosis and the medical treatment was short(AU)

Meningoencefalitis bacteriana en niños menores de 15 años / Bacterial meningoencephalitis affecting children under 15 years of age

Introducción: la meningoencefalitis bacteriana es una enfermedad de distribución universal que afecta individuos de todas las edades, pero especialmente a los niños. Objetivo: identificar las características clínicas y microbiológicas de la meningoencefalitis bacteriana. Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo en niños menores de 15 años ingresados en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos del Hospital Pediátrico Luis Ángel Milanés Tamayo, de Bayamo, Granma, en el periodo comprendido desde el 1ro. de enero de 2008 al 31 de diciembre de 2012. El universo estuvo conformado por 22 pacientes egresados con el diagnóstico de meningoencefalitis bacteriana, y la muestra por 18 casos que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión y exclusión. Resultados: predominó el grupo de edad de 1 a 4 años con el 50 por ciento; la desnutrición se presentó en 5 de los casos estudiados. La media del tiempo transcurrido entre el inicio de los síntomas hasta el diagnóstico, y al inicio del tratamiento médico fue de ±3 días (DS: 1,129); los síntomas inespecíficos y la hipertensión endocraneana se presentaron en un 38,9 por ciento y 88,8 por ciento respectivamente. El Streptococcus pneumoniae fue el germen más frecuentemente aislado en el estudio del líquido cefalorraquídeo, y el edema cerebral la complicación más frecuente de la enfermedad. Conclusiones: la enfermedad estudiada afectó las edades más tempranas, con predominio de los síntomas de hipertensión endocraneana, y una celularidad elevada, y el tiempo entre el inicio de los síntomas al diagnóstico y al tratamiento médico fue corto

Introduction: bacterial meningoencephalitis is a universal disease affecting individual of all ages, but particularly the children. Objective: to identify the clinical and microbiological characteristics of the bacterial meningoencephalitis. Methods: a retrospective and descriptive study was conducted in children aged less than 15 years, who were admitted to the pediatric intensive care service of Luis Angel Milanes Tamayo pediatric hospital located in Bayamo, Gramma province, in the period of January 1st 2008 to December 31st 2012. The universe of study was 22 patients discharged from hospital after diagnosis of bacterial meningoencephalitis, and the sample was composed by 18 cases who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: the one to four years age group predominated, accounting for 50 por ciento and malnutrition was present in 5 of the studied cases. The mean time elapsed from the starting of symptoms to the diagnosis, and at the beginning of the medical therapy was ±3 days (SD: 1.129); the non-specific symptoms and the endocranial hypertension were observed in 38.9 and 88.8 percent, respectively. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most frequently isolated germ in the cerebrospinal fluid study, and the cerebral edema was the commonest complication. Conclusions: the studied disease affected the smaller ages, in which the endocranial hypertension symptoms and raised cellularity predominated, and the time elapsed from the beginning of the symptoms to the diagnosis and the medical treatment was short

Central nervous system paracoccidioidomycosis in an AIDS patient: case report.

Up to now, over 200 patients with paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) associated to HIV infection have already been reported; however, the central nervous system involvement in this coinfection was rarely reported. This paper presents a 35-year-old Brazilian male AIDS patient who developed pulmonary PCM successfully treated with itraconazole. At the antiretroviral therapy starting, he had 32 CD4(+) T cells baseline count and high viral load levels. After 9 months, he presented severe fungal meningoencephalitis diagnosed by sublenticular enhanced nodular lesion at computerized tomography and magnetic resonance brain imaging and a positive Paracoccidiodes brasiliensis smear and culture from cerebrospinal fluid. At the time, a sixfold increase in CD4(+) T cell count and undetectable viral load level were evidenced. The patient received amphotericin B during 1 year presenting slow but progressive clinical improvement, and he is currently asymptomatic and without neurological disabilities. To our knowledge, this is the second case report of a patient with neuroparacoccidioidomycosis associated to HIV infection.