Antipsychotic medications associated with increased length of hospital stay in autoimmune encephalitis and multiple sclerosis: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Antipsychotic medications (APMs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are frequently utilized in patients with neuroinflammatory disorders, such as autoimmune encephalitis and multiple sclerosis (MS). This retrospective study investigates how in-hospital treatment with APMs and SSRIs in patients with these neuroinflammatory diseases are associated with differences in hospital length-of-stay (LOS) and mortality. METHODS: We evaluated all the inpatients in the Stanford University Hospital from 2008 to 2023 diagnosed with either non-infectious encephalitis or MS and subdivided them into those who did or did not receive APMs or SSRIs while hospitalized. We then analyzed whether hospital LOS and mortality differed with these medications. RESULTS: Among inpatients with non-infectious encephalitis (n = 114), those who were exposed to APMs had a significantly increased mean LOS (11.8 vs 20.9 days, p < 0.01). For inpatients with MS (n = 1095), treatment with an APM was associated with a significant increase in mean LOS (2.8 vs. 7.1, p < 0.00001). When comparing typical to atypical APMs given to subjects with MS, those who received atypical APMs showed a significant increase in LOS (4.3 vs 10.5, p < 0.01), although typical APMs showed significantly increased risk of mortality (p < 0.05). For inpatients with MS and SSRI use, there was a significant increase in mean hospital LOS (3.5 vs 5.3, p < 0.01), with a significant difference found in those who received fluoxetine or citalopram, but not sertraline or escitalopram. Finally, several healthcare disparities were found, including that Black patients were more likely to receive APMs, and those with MS were more likely to receive typical rather than atypical APMs. Conversely, Black patients with MS were less likely to receive SSRI treatment. CONCLUSIONS: There was a statistically significant increase in LOS associated with APM use in non-infectious encephalitis and MS, as well as with SSRI use in MS. These data reflect the importance of these medications in these neuroinflammatory disorders and suggest that further investigation into their risks and benefits would be warranted.

Loss of C2orf69 defines a fatal autoinflammatory syndrome in humans and zebrafish that evokes a glycogen-storage-associated mitochondriopathy.

Human C2orf69 is an evolutionarily conserved gene whose function is unknown. Here, we report eight unrelated families from which 20 children presented with a fatal syndrome consisting of severe autoinflammation and progredient leukoencephalopathy with recurrent seizures; 12 of these subjects, whose DNA was available, segregated homozygous loss-of-function C2orf69 variants. C2ORF69 bears homology to esterase enzymes, and orthologs can be found in most eukaryotic genomes, including that of unicellular phytoplankton. We found that endogenous C2ORF69 (1) is loosely bound to mitochondria, (2) affects mitochondrial membrane potential and oxidative respiration in cultured neurons, and (3) controls the levels of the glycogen branching enzyme 1 (GBE1) consistent with a glycogen-storage-associated mitochondriopathy. We show that CRISPR-Cas9-mediated inactivation of zebrafish C2orf69 results in lethality by 8 months of age due to spontaneous epileptic seizures, which is preceded by persistent brain inflammation. Collectively, our results delineate an autoinflammatory Mendelian disorder of C2orf69 deficiency that disrupts the development/homeostasis of the immune and central nervous systems.

Encephalitis and meningitis in Western Africa: a scoping review of pathogens.

OBJECTIVE: To give an overview of the recently reported literature on the aetiologies of meningitis and encephalitis in western sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review following PRISMA guidance on published meningitis and encephalitis cases in the 16 countries of the United Nations-defined western sub-Saharan African region as identified in cohort studies, case series, and case reports, published 01/01/2000-08/01/2020, and available in four databases in August 2020 with an abstract in English, French or Italian. RESULTS: There were 38 distinct pathogens identified from 91 cohort studies' data and 48 case reports or case series' data. In cohort-level data, the majority of cases were caused by Neisseria meningitidis (71.5%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (17.6%) and Haemophilus influenzae (7.3%). In case report- and case series-level data, 40.5% of patients were <18 years old, 28.6% were female, and 28.6% were known to be immunocompromised. The case fatality rate was 39.3%. The most commonly reported pathogens among immunocompetent patients were Salmonella species (13 cases) and Ebola virus (9 cases), and the most commonly reported pathogen among immunocompromised patients was Cryptococcus neoformans (18 cases). Most cohort cases (52.3%) derived from Niger followed by Burkina Faso (28.6%). Most cases from single reports or series were reported from Nigeria (21.4%), Mali (20.2%) and Burkina Faso (19.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Given the small number of pathogens reported, our findings underscore the need to better screen, diagnose and monitor populations in western sub-Saharan Africa for additional CNS pathogens, including those posing significant outbreak risks.

Dysbiosis of Gut Microbiota and Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Encephalitis: A Chinese Pilot Study.

Background: Encephalitis, the inflammation of the brain, may be caused by an infection or an autoimmune reaction. However, few researches were focused on the gut microbiome characteristics in encephalitis patients. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in an academic hospital in Guangzhou from February 2017 to February 2018. Patients with encephalitis were recruited. Fecal and serum samples were collected at admission. Healthy volunteers were enrolled from a community. Disease severity scores were recorded by specialized physicians, including Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation-II (APACHE-II). 16S rRNA sequence was performed to analyze the gut microbiome, then the α-diversities and ß-diversities were estimated. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were extracted from fecal samples and determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Serum D-lactate (D-LA), intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (iFABP), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The associations among microbial indexes and clinical parameters were evaluated by Spearman correlation analysis. Results: In total, twenty-eight patients were recruited for analysis (median age 46 years; 82.1% male; median GCS 6.5; median SOFA 6.5; median APACHE-II 14.5). Twenty-eight age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were selected as controls. The ß-diversities between patients and healthy subjects were significantly different. The α-diversities did not show significant differences between these two groups. In the patient group, the abundances of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Bacilli were significantly enriched. Accordingly, fecal SCFA levels were decreased in the patient group, whereas serum D-LA, iFABP, LPS, and LBP levels were increased compared with those in healthy subjects. Correlation analyses showed that disease severity had positive correlations with Proteobacteria and Akkermansia but negative correlations with Firmicutes, Clostridia, and Ruminococcaceae abundances. The cerebrospinal fluid albumin-to-serum albumin ratio (CSAR) was positively related to the α-diversity but negatively correlated with the fecal butyrate concentration. Conclusion: Gut microbiota disruption was observed in encephalitis patients, which manifested as pathogen dominance and health-promoting commensal depletion. Disease severity and brain damage may have associations with the gut microbiota or its metabolites. The causal relationship should be further explored in future studies.

Fatal Outcome of Ilheus Virus in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of a Patient Diagnosed with Encephalitis.

Ilheus virus is an arbovirus with the potential for central nervous system involvement. Accurate diagnosis is a challenge due to similar clinical symptoms and serologic cross-reactivity with other flaviviruses. Here, we describe the first documented case of a fatal outcome following the identification of Ilheus virus in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of a patient with cerebral encephalitis in Brazil.

Assessing the Risk/Benefit at Status Epilepticus Onset: The Prognostic Scores.

Status epilepticus is a medical emergency with a wide range of etiology, severity, and outcome. Different scores that can help in the stratification of a patient's risk of mortality have been published. This study describes and compares the three available scores (Status Epilepticus Severity Score, Epidemiology-Based Mortality Score in Status Epilepticus and Encephalitis, Nonconvulsive, Diazepam resistance, Imaging, Tracheal intubation).

Clinical Features and Risk Factors for Mortality in Children With Acute Encephalitis Who Present to the Emergency Department.

Acute encephalitis is an important pediatric emergency that tends to be associated with neurological morbidity, critical illness, and mortality. Few data have specifically focused on evaluating various early clinical parameters in the pediatric emergency department as candidate predictors of mortality. The present retrospective study assessed the clinical, laboratory, and neuroimaging findings of children with acute encephalitis who presented to the emergency department. Of 158 patients diagnosed with encephalitis, 7 (4.4%) had mortality. Compared to the survivors, a multivariate analysis revealed that an initial Glasgow Coma Scale score ≤ 5 (odds ratio [OR]: 8.3, P = .022), acute necrotizing encephalitis (OR: 12.1, P = .01), white blood count level ≤ 5.2 × 109 cells/L (OR: 28.7, P < .001), aspartate aminotransferase level > 35 U/L (OR: 14.3, P = .022), and influenza A infection (OR: 7.7, P = .027) were significantly associated with mortality. These results indicate that the early recognition of preliminary clinical features and the development of more specific etiologies for encephalitis are important for early treatment strategies.

Compliance with international guidelines in adults with encephalitis.

BACKGROUND: Encephalitis is associated with significant neurological disability and mortality. Many guidelines are published for encephalitis management but compliance with them is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the appropriate management and compliance to the current guidelines in adults with encephalitis. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective multicenter study at 17 hospitals in the Greater Houston area from August 1, 2008 through September 30, 2017. All cases met the definition for possible or probable encephalitis as per the international encephalitis consortium guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 241 adults (age >17 years) with encephalitis were enrolled. The most common etiologies were unknown (41.9 %), viral (27.8 %) and autoimmune (21.2 %). An adverse clinical outcome was seen in 49 % with 12.4 % in hospital mortality. A high compliance with guidelines (>90 %) was only seen in obtaining a brain computerized tomography (CT) scan, blood cultures and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) gram stain and culture. A CSF herpes virus simplex (HSV) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was done in 84 % and only repeated in 14.2 % of patients with an initial negative result. Furthermore, only two-thirds of patients were started empirically on intravenous acyclovir and antibiotics. Evaluation for other etiologies were not uniformly performed: arboviral serologies (57.3 %), CSF anti-N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Receptor (NMDA) receptor antibody (35.7 %), and CSF varicella zoster virus (VZV) PCR (32 %). The highest yield for the tests were arboviral serologies (42 %), anti-NMDA antibodies (41.2 %) and VZV PCR (16.4 %). CONCLUSION: The management of encephalitis as per current guidelines is suboptimal leading to underutilization of currently available diagnostic tests and empirical therapy.

Predisposing factors and prognosis of status epilepticus in patients with autoimmune encephalitis.

The aim of this study was to study the predisposing factors and prognosis of status epilepticus (SE) in patients with autoimmune encephalitis (AE).A total of 227 cases of AE were collected from the inpatient department of West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 2010 to May 2018. All patients met the 2015 criteria for the diagnosis of AE. The binary logistic regression model was used to multivariate and retrospective chart analysis the predisposition factors for SE and its prognostic factors.Of the 227 patients with AE, 50 (22.03%) had SE during hospitalization, and 19 patients with SE had a poor prognosis (modified Rankin score MRS = 3-6), and 7 patients with no SE had a poor prognosis. In the logistic regression model, electroencephalograms (EEGs) abnormalities (P = .000) and head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities (P = .003) were associated with a predisposition to SE, while Glasgow scores <8 (P = .027), abnormal EEG (P = .046), delayed immunotherapy (P = .012), and SE duration at admission lasting >30 minutes (P = .023) were risk factors for a poor prognosis of SE.SE is a common complication in patients with AE. EEG and MRI abnormalities may be predisposing factors for SE. Glasgow scores <8 points, abnormal EEG, delayed immunotherapy, and SE duration lasting >30 minutes at admission are risk factors for a poor prognosis in patients with SE.

Fatal encephalitis associated with coronavirus OC43 in an immunocompromised child.

A child with pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) developed fatal encephalitis associated with human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43). During chemotherapy the child had a persistent HCoV-OC43 respiratory infection and later developed progressive encephalitis. Cerebrospinal fluid was negative for pathogens including HCoV-OC43, but a brain biopsy was HCoV-OC43-positive by metagenomic next-generation sequencing.

Epidemiology and Etiology of Severe Childhood Encephalitis in The Netherlands.

BACKGROUND: Limited data are available on childhood encephalitis. Our study aimed to increase insight on clinical presentation, etiology, and clinical outcome of children with severe encephalitis in the Netherlands. METHODS: We identified patients through the Dutch Pediatric Intensive Care Evaluation database and included children diagnosed with encephalitis <18 years of age admitted to 1 of the 8 pediatric intensive care units (PICU) in the Netherlands between January 2003 and December 2013. We analyzed demographic characteristics, clinical symptoms, neurologic imaging, etiology, treatment and mortality. RESULTS: We included 121 children with a median age of 4.6 years (IQR 1.3-9.8). The most frequently described clinical features were headache (82.1%), decreased consciousness (79.8%) and seizures (69.8%). In 44.6% of the children, no causative agent was identified. Viral- and immune-mediated encephalitis were diagnosed in 33.1% and 10.7% of the patients. A herpes simplex virus infection (13.2%) was mainly seen in children <5 years of age, median age, 1.73 years (IQR 0.77-5.01), while immune-mediated encephalitis mostly affected older children, median age of 10.4 years (IQR, 3.72-14.18). An age of ≥ 5 years at initial presentation was associated with a lower mortality (OR 0.2 [CI 0.08-0.78]). The detection of a bacterial (OR 9.4 [CI 2.18-40.46]) or viral (OR 3.7 [CI 1.16-11.73]) pathogen was associated with a higher mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In almost half of the Dutch children presenting with severe encephalitis, a causative pathogen could not be identified, underlining the need for enhancement of microbiologic diagnostics. The detection of a bacterial or viral pathogen was associated with a higher mortality.

Zoonotic spillover infections with Borna disease virus 1 leading to fatal human encephalitis, 1999-2019: an epidemiological investigation.

BACKGROUND: In 2018-19, Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1), the causative agent of Borna disease in horses, sheep, and other domestic mammals, was reported in five human patients with severe to fatal encephalitis in Germany. However, information on case frequencies, clinical courses, and detailed epidemiological analyses are still lacking. We report the occurrence of BoDV-1-associated encephalitis in cases submitted to the Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany, and provide a detailed description of newly identified cases of BoDV-1-induced encephalitis. METHODS: All brain tissues from 56 encephalitis cases from Bavaria, Germany, of putative viral origin (1999-2019), which had been submitted for virological testing upon request of the attending clinician and stored for stepwise diagnostic procedure, were systematically screened for BoDV-1 RNA. Two additional BoDV-1-positive cases were contributed by other diagnostic centres. Positive results were confirmed by deep sequencing, antigen detection, and determination of BoDV-1-reactive antibodies in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Clinical and epidemiological data from infected patients were collected and analysed. FINDINGS: BoDV-1 RNA and bornavirus-reactive antibodies were detected in eight newly analysed encephalitis cases and the first human BoDV-1 isolate was obtained from an unequivocally confirmed human BoDV-1 infection from the endemic area. Six of the eight BoDV-1-positive patients had no record of immunosuppression before the onset of fatal disease, whereas two were immunocompromised after solid organ transplantation. Typical initial symptoms were headache, fever, and confusion, followed by various neurological signs, deep coma, and severe brainstem involvement. Seven of nine patients with fatal encephalitis of unclear cause were BoDV-1 positive within one diagnostic centre. BoDV-1 sequence information and epidemiological analyses indicated independent spillover transmissions most likely from the local wild animal reservoir. INTERPRETATION: BoDV-1 infection has to be considered as a potentially lethal zoonosis in endemic regions with reported spillover infections in horses and sheep. BoDV-1 infection can result in fatal encephalitis in immunocompromised and apparently healthy people. Consequently, all severe encephalitis cases of unclear cause should be tested for bornaviruses especially in endemic regions. FUNDING: German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Autoimmune encephalitis.

Autoimmune encephalitis is emerging as an important and relatively common cause of encephalitis in the developed world. Crucially, early recognition and prompt initiation of a range of immunotherapies is likely to improve the outcomes of patients with autoimmune encephalitis, particularly for those with identifiable antibodies against neuronal cell surface proteins. There are a rapidly growing number of specific autoantibodies and associated syndromes, but many of these remain very rare. The majority of cases comprise anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis or anti-leucine-rich glioma-inactivated protein 1 (LGI1) encephalitis with the remaining cases a mixture of over 10 other specific antibodies or being seronegative. The core anti-NMDA encephalitis phenotype is a distinct symptom complex involving psychiatric and neurological features and anti-LGI1 encephalitis presents with cognitive changes and distinct seizure types. Diagnosis can be delayed owing to limited access to specialised laboratory testing or in cases with atypical or limited features.

Reversible lesion in the splenium of the corpus callosum.

AIM OF REVIEW: The presence of isolated, reversible lesions in the splenium of the corpus callosum (SCC) is essential to confirm the diagnosis of mild encephalitis/encephalopathy. The lesions usually heal within a month after the onset of neurological symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has increasingly been used as a diagnostic tool, which has led to the publication of an increasing number of case reports. These have highlighted some inconsistencies about encephalitis/encephalopathy. First, the condition is not always mild and may be severe. Second, reversible lesions in the SCC have been identified in various diseases and conditions other than viral encephalitis/encephalopathy. Third, lesions in SCC are not always completely reversible. On this note, this review describes the specific clinical and radiological features of encephalitis/encephalopathy. FINDINGS: The reversible lesion in SCC is an MRI finding observable in a wide variety of diseases and conditions. Thus, it should be considered as a secondary change rather than a peculiar feature associated with mild encephalitis/encephalopathy. If reversible lesions are present in the SCC, the symptoms and prognosis are not necessarily favorable, with manifestations of encephalitis/encephalopathy varying from absent to severe. Neuroradiological features that appear as isolated high-intensity signals on diffusion-weighted images and a decreased apparent diffusion coefficient of the lesion might indicate a diagnosis of cytotoxic edema. Findings of previous studies suggest that cytokine-mediated cytotoxic edema of the SCC may be an important pathophysiological manifestation of this condition. CONCLUSION: The reversible lesions in the SCC found on MRI are not exclusive to encephalitis/encephalopathy but may be secondary to other disorders.

Diagnóstico de meningitis/encefalitis en UCI con sistema de PCR múltiple. ¿Es tiempo de cambio? / Meningitis/Encephalitis diagnosis in ICU using Multiplex PCR system: is it time of change?

OBJETIVO: Evaluar el impacto clínico de la PCR-múltiple FilmArray(R) panel Meningitis/Encefalitis en el diagnóstico de infecciones del sistema nervioso central y comparar los resultados obtenidos y el tiempo necesario hasta el diagnóstico con las técnicas microbiológicas convencionales. PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio prospectivo observacional en una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) de adultos de un hospital de tercer nivel. Se realizó punción lumbar a todos los pacientes y en el LCR extraído se realizó FilmArray(R) panel de meningitis /encefalitis, estudio citoquímico, Gram y cultivos microbiológicos convencionales. RESULTADOS: 21 pacientes ingresados con sospecha de Meningitis/Encefalitis. Edad: mediana 58,4 años (RIQ 38,1-67,3), APACHE II: mediana 18 (RIQ 12-24). La mediana de estancia en UCI fue de 4 días (RIQ 2-6) y la hospitalaria de 17 días (RIQ 14-28). Mortalidad 14,3%. Se estableció un diagnóstico clínico final de Meningitis/Encefalitis en 16 pacientes, con diagnóstico etiológico en 12 casos (75%). La etiología más frecuente fue Streptococcus pneumoniae (8 casos). FilmArray(R) permitió diagnóstico etiológico en 3 casos con cultivo negativo y el resultado implicó cambios en el tratamiento antibiótico de 7 de los 16 pacientes (43,8%). Para la totalidad de pacientes, FilmArray(R) presentó una sensibilidad y especificidad del 100% y 90% respectivamente. La mediana de tiempo hasta la obtención del resultado de FilmArray(R) fue de 2,9 horas (RIQ 2,1-3,8) y del cultivo incluyendo antibiograma 45,1 horas (RIQ 38,9-58,7). CONCLUSIONES: FilmArray(R) panel Meningitis/Encefalitis realiza un diagnóstico etiológico más precoz que los cultivos convencionales, muestra una mayor sensibilidad y permite realizar un tratamiento antimicrobiano dirigido

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical impact of Meningitis/Encephalitis FilmArray(R) panel for the diagnosis of cerebral nervous system infection and to compare the results (including time for diagnosis) with those obtained by conventional microbiological techniques. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective observational study in an Intensive Care Unit of adults from a tertiary hospital was carried out. Cerebrospinal fluid from all patients was taken by lumbar puncture and assessed by the meningitis/encephalitis FilmArray(R) panel ME, cytochemical study, Gram, and conventional microbiological cultures. RESULTS: A total of 21 patients admitted with suspicion of Meningitis/Encephalitis. Median age of patients was 58.4 years (RIQ 38.1-67.3), median APACHE II 18 (RIQ 12-24). Median stay in ICU and median hospital stay was 4 (RIQ 2-6) and 17 days (RIQ 14-28), respectively. The overall mortality was 14.3%. A final clinical diagnosis of meningitis or encephalitis was established in 16 patients, obtaining the etiological diagnosis in 12 of them (75%). The most frequent etiology was Streptococcus pneumoniae (8 cases). FilmArray(R) allowed etiological diagnosis in 3 cases in which the culture had been negative, and the results led to changes in the empirical antimicrobial therapy in 7 of 16 cases (43.8%). FilmArray(R) yielded a global sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 90%, respectively. The median time to obtain results from the latter and conventional culture (including antibiogram) was 2.9 hours (RIQ 2.1-3.8) and 45.1 hours (RIQ 38.9-58.7), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The Meningitis/Encephalitis FilmArray(R) panel was able to establish the etiologic diagnosis faster than conventional methods. Also, it achieved a better sensitivity and led to prompt targeted antimicrobial therapy

[Meningitis/Encephalitis diagnosis in ICU using Multiplex PCR system: Is it time of change?] / Diagnóstico de meningitis/encefalitis en UCI con sistema de PCR múltiple. ¿Es tiempo de cambio?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical impact of Meningitis/Encephalitis FilmArray® panel for the diagnosis of cerebral nervous system infection and to compare the results (including time for diagnosis) with those obtained by conventional microbiological techniques. METHODS: A prospective observational study in an Intensive Care Unit of adults from a tertiary hospital was carried out. Cerebrospinal fluid from all patients was taken by lumbar puncture and assessed by the meningitis/encephalitis FilmArray® panel ME, cytochemical study, Gram, and conventional microbiological cultures. RESULTS: A total of 21 patients admitted with suspicion of Meningitis/Encephalitis. Median age of patients was 58.4 years (RIQ 38.1-67.3), median APACHE II 18 (RIQ 12-24). Median stay in ICU and median hospital stay was 4 (RIQ 2-6) and 17 days (RIQ 14-28), respectively. The overall mortality was 14.3%. A final clinical diagnosis of meningitis or encephalitis was established in 16 patients, obtaining the etiological diagnosis in 12 of them (75%). The most frequent etiology was Streptococcus pneumoniae (8 cases). FilmArray® allowed etiological diagnosis in 3 cases in which the culture had been negative, and the results led to changes in the empirical antimicrobial therapy in 7 of 16 cases (43.8%). FilmArray® yielded a global sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 90%, respectively. The median time to obtain results from the latter and conventional culture (including antibiogram) was 2.9 hours (RIQ 2.1-3.8) and 45.1 hours (RIQ 38.9-58.7), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The Meningitis/Encephalitis FilmArray® panel was able to establish the etiologic diagnosis faster than conventional methods. Also, it achieved a better sensitivity and led to prompt targeted antimicrobial therapy.

A Population-based Observational Study of Childhood Encephalitis in Children Admitted to Pediatric Intensive Care Units in England and Wales.

BACKGROUND: Encephalitis is a serious neurologic condition that can result in admission to intensive care. Yet, there are no studies on pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission rates and usage of intensive care resources by children with encephalitis in England and Wales. The objectives of this study were to (1) define the PICU incidence and mortality rates for childhood encephalitis, (2) describe the usage of intensive care resources by children with encephalitis admitted to PICU and (3) explore the associated cost from PICU encephalitis admissions. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of anonymized data for 1031 children (0-17 years) with encephalitis admitted (January 2003 to December 2013) to PICU in England and Wales. RESULTS: The PICU encephalitis incidence was 0.79/100,000 population/yr (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.74-0.84), which gives an annual total of 214 bed days of intensive care occupancy for children admitted with encephalitis and an estimated annual PICU bed cost of £414,230 (interquartile range: 198,111-882,495) for this cohort. PICU encephalitis admissions increased during the study period (annual percentage change = 4.5%, 95% CI: 2.43%-6.50%, P ≤ 0.0001). In total, 808/1024 (78.9%) cases received invasive ventilation while 216/983 (22.0%) and 50/890 (5.6%) cases received vasoactive treatment and renal support, respectively. There were 87 deaths (8.4%), giving a PICU encephalitis mortality rate of 0.07/100,000 population (0-17 years)/yr (95% CI: 0.05-0.08). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that encephalitis places a significant burden to the healthcare service. More work is needed to improve outcomes for children with encephalitis.

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.

The case of lethal encephalitis due to Chikungunya virus in immunosuppressed patient: a case report

"At present, there are limited data on the association of CHIKV severe manifestations in patients with comorbidities and immunosuppression. Some descriptions of correlations between severe manifestations and arboviruses co-infection have been described, which does not correspond to the herein described case.(19)˒(20) In the present study, we report on a immunocompromised patients due to underlying immunological disease and treatment with immunosuppressive drugs, who evolved with encephalitis after CHIKV infection. This case add significant data to the limited literature on the subject and raise further studies to corroborate this correlation, in order to identify risk groups for severe manifestations"

[Rabies and Bornavirus encephalitis : Fatal emerging viral encephalitis-a potential problem for organ recipients]. / Tollwut und Bornavirus-Enzephalitis : Fatale "emerging" virale Enzephalitis ­ ein potenzielles Problem bei Organempfängern.

A severe, often fatal encephalitis needs to be extensively and carefully clarified, especially when it occurs in a patient weeks or months after an organ transplantation. If the donor was viremic at the time of the organ removal or living viruses were present in the organ tissue, many viruses can be transferred to the organ recipient. This has been repeatedly reported in recent years and decades. In this overview rabies is discussed as a particularly important form of viral encephalitis, which is transferred via organs and always has a fatal outcome, because patients carry a high risk of infection for all caregivers. Bornavirus has been known in veterinary medicine for many decades and in human medicine has been discussed as possibly being associated with psychiatric diseases. Very recently Bornavirus has been identified as the causative pathogen of fatal encephalitis in organ recipients. The aim of this article is to raise awareness for rabies and Bornavirus disease in intensive care medicine and neurology for organ donors and those taking care of organ recipients. Prevention by knowledge can be lifesaving.