Cryptococcosis, mainly caused by Cryptococcus neoformans/gattii species complexes, is a lethal infection in both immunosuppressive and immunocompetent populations. With the upgrade of detection methods and the increase of clinical knowledge, the incidence rate of cryptococcosis is increasing, and it has become one of the most important fungi threatening human health. In recent years, great progress has been made in this field, including the taxonomy and nomenclature of Cryptococcus spp., laboratory diagnostic methods and antifungal susceptibility tests, as well as the characteristics and treatments of cryptococcosis. This article reviews the above contents, in order to improve the clinical and laboratory understanding of the Cryptococcus spp., and realize the timely diagnosis and early treatment of cryptococcosis.
Anthrax is a zoonotic, acute infectious disease caused by Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax meningitis is one of the most dangerous types of anthrax, mostly secondary to cutaneous, intestinal, and pulmonary anthrax, and is a central nervous system infectious disease that is extremely lethal in the absence of timely treatment. This article reviews the clinical characteristics, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of anthrax meningitis, in order to provide some reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of anthrax meningitis in China, and to provide reference for the further development of anthrax meningitis research.
ObjectiveTo analyze the curative effect and prognosis of drug resistant tuberculosis meningitis (TBM). MethodsRetrospective analysis was carried out on the clinical data of thirty-two cases of drug resistant tuberculous meningitis patients hospitalized from January 2010 to December 2015. And the prognosis of the patients was evaluated by meliorated Rankin Scale (mRS). ResultsThirty-one cases (96.9%) were improved in 32 patients with drug resistant TBM, and 1 case (3.1%) was ineffective. After treatment, one patient had hormone-related glaucoma and osteoporosis, and one patient had drug Cushing syndrome. Twenty-seven patients (84.4%) had an mRS score equal to or less than 2 points. ConclusionDrug resistant TBM is difficult to diagnose in the early stage, and the curative effect is satisfying with active anti-tuberculosis treatment.
Objective To retrospectively analyze the clinical information of a series of patients with cryptococcal neoformans meningitis in order to improve the diagnosis and treatment level. Methods Fifteen patients with etiological diagnosis as cryptococcal neoformans meningitis from January 2004 to December 2009 in the Affiliated Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University were included in the study. The clinical manifestations, treatment and prognosis of those patients were retrospectively analyzed. Results Seven of the total 15 patients were misdiagnosed with misdiagnosis rate of 46.7%. Twelve patients were treated by combination of amphotericin B/Lipo-AMB and fluconazole intravenously infusion, and then followed by the maintenance therapy of fluconazole orally administration, of which 7 were cured, 3 were improved, and 2 died. Five patients undergoing lumbar cisterna drainage were all cured. The follow-up study showed that 4 cases were accompanied by auditory or/and visual dysfunction within 1 to 5 years after hospital discharge. Three cases died that were not treated with anti-fungal drugs. Conclusion The misdiagnosis rate of cryptococcal neoformans meningitis is high. The keys to reduce mortality are raising vigilance, early diagnosis, rational use of antifungal drugs, and effectively lowering the intracranial pressure. The integrated therapy of amphotericin B/Lipo-AMB and fluconazole is effective and safe. Lumbar cisterna drainage can effectively lower the intracranial hypertension, quickly relieve symptoms and improve prognosis.
Objective To systematically review the risk factors for death in children with tuberculous meningitis (TBM). Methods The CNKI, VIP, WanFang Data, CBM, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed, EMbase and CINAHL databases were electronically searched to collect studies on the risk factors for death in children with TBM from inception to October 2022. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Meta-analysis was then performed by using RevMan 5.3 software. Results A total of 15 studies involving 2 597 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that male (OR=2.41, 95%CI 1.61 to 3.61, P<0.01), no history of BCG vaccination (OR=3.74, 95%CI 1.96 to 7.12, P<0.01), TBM stage (stage Ⅲ) (OR=2.04, 95%CI 1.26 to 3.28, P<0.01), HIV infection (OR=3.28, 95%CI 1.20 to 8.93, P=0.02), convulsion (OR=3.61, 95%CI 3.31 to 3.94, P<0.01), disturbance of consciousness (OR=3.58, 95%CI 2.40 to 5.34, P<0.01), cerebrospinal fluid protein concentration increased (OR=1.87, 95%CI 1.39 to 2.51, P<0.01), hydrocephalus (OR=2.44, 95%CI 1.60 to 3.71, P<0.01) and short hospitalization (OR=2.89, 95%CI 2.05 to 4.06, P<0.01) were risk factors for death in children with TBM. Under 5 years old, negative PPD skin test, positive meningeal irritation sign, malnutrition and history of contact with TB may not be associated with the death of TBM in children. Conclusion Male, no history of BCG vaccination, TBM stage (stage Ⅲ), HIV infection, convulsions, disturbance of consciousness, cerebrospinal fluid protein concentration increased, hydrocephalus and short hospitalization are risk factors for death in children with TBM. Due to the limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
Objective To explore the predictive factors for long-term adverse prognosis in patients with tuberculosis meningitis. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data (general clinical data, laboratory test results, and imaging findings) of hospitalized cases of tuberculosis meningitis admitted to West China Hospital of Sichuan University from 00:00:00 on August 1st, 2011 to 23:59:59 on July 31st, 2012. We collected data of prognosis results after 6 years of illness by telephone follow-up, and quantified outcome measures by modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score (0–6 points). According to the mRS score, the cases obtaining 0 points≤mRS<3 points were divided into the good prognosis group and the cases obtaining 3≤mRS≤6 points were divided into the poor prognosis group, logistic regression analysis was executed to find the independent risk factors affecting long-term poor prognosis. Results A total of 119 cases were included, including 63 males and 56 females; the average age was (35±17) years. Among them, 53 patients had poor prognosis and 66 patients had good prognosis. After univariate analysis, the age (t=–3.812, P<0.001), systolic blood pressure at admission (t=–2.009, P=0.049), Glasgow Coma Scale score (t=3.987, P<0.001), Medical Research Council (MRC) staging system (Z=–4.854, P<0.001), headache (χ2=4.101, P=0.043), alter consciousness (χ2=10.621, P=0.001), cognitive dysfunction (χ2=4.075, P=0.044), cranial nerve palsy (χ2=5.853, P=0.016), peripheral nerve dysfunction (χ2=14.925, P<0.001), meningeal irritation (χ2=7.174, P=0.007), serum potassium (t=3.080, P=0.003), cerebrospinal fluid protein content (Z=–2.568, P=0.010), cerebrospinal fluid chlorine (t=2.543, P=0.012), hydrocephalus (χ2=11.766, P=0.001), and cerebral infarction (χ2=6.539, P=0.012) were associated with long-term poor prognosis of tuberculosis meningitis. Multivariate analysis showed that age [odds ratio (OR)=1.061, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.027, 1.096), P<0.001], peripheral nerve dysfunction [OR=3.537, 95%CI (1.070, 11.697), P=0.038], MRC Stage Ⅱ[OR=9.317, 95%CI (1.692, 51.303), P=0.010], MRC Stage Ⅲ [OR=43.953, 95%CI (3.996, 483.398), P=0.002] were the independent risk factors for long-term poor prognosis of tuberculosis meningitis. Hydrocephalus [OR=2.826, 95%CI (0.999, 8.200), P=0.050] might be an independent risk factor for long-term poor prognosis of tuberculosis meningitis. Conclusions Age, MRC staging system (Stage Ⅱ, Stage Ⅲ) and peripheral neurological dysfunction are chronic poor-prognostic independent risk factors for tuberculosis meningitis. Hydrocephalus may be associated with long-term adverse prognosis of tuberculosis meningitis
ObjectiveTo investigate the epidemiological and economic burden of acute meningitis and encephalitis syndrome (AMES) in Jinan, so as to provide references for prevention and control of AMES. MethodsThe monitoring data of the AMES Special Reporting System of Jinan City from 2007 to 2014 was collected and the epidemiological characteristics of AMES were analyzed. A questionnaire survey was performed in AMES patients reported in 2013 to collect the basic information, prognosis, medical and non-medical expenses etc. of patients. The DALYs and economic burden of AMES were estimated by using SPSS 13.0 software. ResultsThe average incidence rate of AMES in Jinan was 8.49/100 000 through 2007 to 2014 and the mortality was 4.96‰. The total DALYs were 36 659.51 and the average DALY was 8.27.77.86% were aged less than 14 years old. The average direct economic burden of each case was 19.5 thousand RMB and the average indirect economic burden caused by DALYs was 69.1 thousand RMB. ConclusionThere's heavy burden from AMES, and measures should be made to reduce the incidence and economic burden.
目的:归纳分析42例隐球菌脑膜炎的发病情况、临床特点并总结抗真菌药物的治疗经验,以提高对隐球菌脑膜炎的诊治水平。方法:回顾分析四川大学华西医院2001～2007年所收治42例隐球菌脑膜炎病例的临床表现、实验室检查结果、抗真菌药物的疗效及预后,并对两性霉素B联合5氟胞嘧啶抗真菌治疗的药物剂量、疗效、不良反应以及疗程与预后的关系加以剖析。结果:临床以发热、头痛、颅内压升高、脑膜刺激征为主要表现,采用两性霉素B联合5氟胞嘧啶治疗,总有效率78.5%,42例患者治愈9例,好转24例,死亡5例,自动出院后失访4例。结论:隐球菌脑膜炎由于临床表现、脑脊液常规和生化检查以及影像学检查无明显特异性,易于误诊;脑脊液墨汁染色有助于早期诊断本病,对疑似病例反复进行脑脊液墨汁染色有利于确诊;两性霉素B联合5氟胞嘧啶治疗治疗隐球菌脑膜炎效果良好。但需注重合理应用并密切监测不良反应。