Article
Biology
Philip H. C. Kremer, Bart Ferwerda, Hester J. Bootsma, Nienke Y. Rots, Alienke J. Wijmenga-Monsuur, Elisabeth A. M. Sanders, Krzysztof Trzcinski, Anne L. Wyllie, Paul Turner, Arie van der Ende, Matthijs C. Brouwer, Stephen D. Bentley, Diederik van de Beek, John A. Lees
Summary: This study identified genetic variations in pneumococcal carriage that differ between infants and adults. Serotypes and genetic background were found to explain a proportion of the heritability in carriage. The findings support the proposal for adaptive vaccination strategies targeting dominant circulating serotypes and tailored to the composition of the pathogen populations.
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Marco Rinaldo Oggioni, Uwe Koedel
Summary: Researchers have found a link between impaired glymphatic system functionality and neurological sequelae caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis. This study provides an important initial step in evaluating the potential impact of glymphatic system functionality on disease severity and sequelae in meningitis.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Fereshte Sheybani, Matthijs C. Brouwer, Diederik van de Beek
Summary: Bacterial meningitis in patients with multiple myeloma is rare but severe, with high rates of unfavorable outcomes. These patients often present with a lower cerebrospinal fluid leukocyte count compared to those without multiple myeloma. Physicians should have a low threshold for performing lumbar puncture and initiating antibiotic treatment in these patients.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Shahrzad S. Deliran, Matthijs C. Brouwer, Diederik van de Beek
Summary: This study investigated the incidence, clinical course, radiological patterns, and clinical outcome of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) complicating bacterial meningitis. The results showed that ICH is a rare but severe complication in patients with bacterial meningitis, occurring in those with endocarditis, cerebral infarction, and anticoagulant use. ICH complicating bacterial meningitis is associated with high rates of death and morbidity.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kai Zheng, Liang Zhu, Yiwei Ding, Xixi Zhang, Ning Chen, Gang Liu, Qiushui He
Summary: The study revealed significant changes in serum pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in pediatric patients with pneumococcal meningitis. IL-10 levels were significantly higher, while IL-12p40, IL-17A, and IL-1 beta levels were significantly lower in patients compared to healthy controls. Additionally, there was a negative correlation between blood neutrophil percentages and IL-10 concentrations, and lower levels of IL-12p40 and CXCL-1 were observed in patients with sepsis.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Kristine Farmen, Miguel Tofino-Vian, Federico Iovino
Summary: Bacterial meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges caused by blood-borne bacteria that penetrate the blood-brain barrier and interact with neurons in the brain, leading to neuronal death. Clinical studies suggest that meningitis may lead to dementia and affect the onset of neurodegenerative diseases.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bin Chang, Kosuke Tamura, Hiroyuki Fujikura, Hiroshi Watanabe, Yoshinari Tanabe, Koji Kuronuma, Jiro Fujita, Kengo Oshima, Takaya Maruyama, Shuichi Abe, Kei Kasahara, Junichiro Nishi, Tetsuya Kubota, Yuki Kinjo, Yusuke Serizawa, Reiko Shimbashi, Munehisa Fukusumi, Tomoe Shimada, Tomimasa Sunagawa, Motoi Suzuki, Kazunori Oishi
Summary: This study assessed the impact of pediatric 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) on pneumococcal meningitis in adults in Japan from 2014 to 2018. Results showed that younger age and lower case fatality rate were associated with meningitis in adult patients. Factors such as splenic dysfunction, specific serotypes, and age influenced the occurrence of meningitis. PCV13 had an indirect effect on non-meningitis cases, but its impact on meningitis was limited due to an increase in non-PCV13 serotypes.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Maria Martin-Cerezuela, Maialen Aseginolaza-Lizarazu, Patricia Boronat-Garcia, Maria Jose Asensio-Martin, Gisela Alaman-Laguarda, Francisco Alvarez-Lerma, David Roa-Alonso, Lorenzo Socias, Paula Vera-Artazcoz, Paula Ramirez-Galleymore
Summary: This study evaluated the epidemiology, management, and outcomes of severe community-acquired pneumococcal meningitis. The results showed that delay in antibiotic treatment following admission is the only amendable factor associated with mortality.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Susan Meiring, Cheryl Cohen, Linda de Gouveia, Mignon du Plessis, Vanessa Quan, Jackie Kleynhans, Colin Menezes, Gary Reubenson, Halima Dawood, Maphoshane Nchabeleng, Mohamed Said, Nomonde Mvelase, Prasha Mahabeer, Rispah Chomba, Ruth Lekalakala, Trusha Nana, Vindana Chibabhai, Marianne Black, Anne von Gottberg
Summary: Providing country-specific estimates of case fatality and sequelae from bacterial meningitis (BM) is important to evaluate and monitor progress toward the World Health Organization's roadmap to defeating meningitis by 2030. The study conducted enhanced surveillance at 26 hospitals in South Africa from 2016-2020, revealing that BM in South Africa has a high case fatality, and adverse sequelae frequently occur among survivors. Those with comorbidities, including HIV, are at the highest risk.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Hannah N. Agnew, Erin B. Brazel, Alexandra Tikhomirova, Mark van der Linden, Kimberley T. McLean, James C. Paton, Claudia Trappetti
Summary: This study found differences in raffinose utilization by the same strain of S. pneumoniae isolated from the blood and cerebrospinal fluid of a pediatric patient with meningitis. The blood isolate displayed defective raffinose metabolism and reduced transcription of the raffinose utilization pathway genes. Mice infected with the blood isolate had higher bacterial numbers in the nose but were unable to invade the ears. Genomic analysis identified a premature stop codon in the aga gene, suggesting impaired alpha-galactosidase activity.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Sedigheh Rafiei Tabatabaei, Ahmadreza Shamshiri, Leila Azimi, Ali Nazari-Alam, Abdollah Karimi, Seyed Alireza Mirjavadi, Marjan Tariverdi
Summary: This study identified the serotypes of Hemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae in blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples from pediatric patients with meningitis using PCR. The results showed the presence of co-infection with multiple serotypes of S. pneumoniae in cerebrospinal fluid samples. This study provides important information for understanding the pathogens and infections involved in bacterial meningitis.
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Nils Block, Pontus Naucler, Philippe Wagner, Eva Morfeldt, Birgitta Henriques-Normark
Summary: This study conducted a 50-year investigation on the epidemiology of bacterial meningitis in Sweden and found that the incidence rate in children decreased while it remained unchanged in adults. The main pathogens were Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria meningitidis. The introduction of vaccines led to a decrease in incidence and mortality in previously healthy children, but an increase in immunosuppressed patients. The study highlights the importance of correct diagnosis when treating these infections.
JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Danchun Chen, Benyu Tang, Ying Li, Kelu Zheng, Xiaojing Li, Wenxiong Chen, Fei Gao, Yuanyuan Gao, Kaili Shi
Summary: This study collected information from 252 children with bacterial meningitis infected with Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, or Escherichia coli. The results showed distinct trends and age distribution for each pathogen. The antimicrobial resistance patterns for each pathogen were reviewed, providing guidance for drug use. Furthermore, blood white blood cell count was found to be a protective factor, while glucose levels in cerebrospinal fluid were a risk factor for hospitalization length.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Kat Franklin, Brenda Kwambana-Adams, Fernanda C. Lessa, Heidi M. Soeters, Laura Cooper, Matthew E. Coldiron, Jason Mwenda, Martin Antonio, Tomoka Nakamura, Ryan Novak, Adam L. Cohen
Summary: The study reviewed and analyzed 10 potential pneumococcal meningitis outbreaks in Africa between 2000 and 2018. These outbreaks showed lower peak attack rates than meningococcal meningitis outbreaks and were characterized by a predominance of serotype 1. Patients with pneumococcal meningitis tended to be older and had a higher case fatality rate compared to meningococcal meningitis cases. Improved laboratory testing for S. pneumoniae is essential for early outbreak identification.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ben Morton, Sarah Burr, Tarsizio Chikaonda, Edna Nsomba, Lucinda Manda-Taylor, Marc Y. R. Henrion, Ndaziona Peter Banda, Jamie Rylance, Daniela M. Ferreira, Kondwani Jambo, Stephen B. Gordon
Summary: This study in Malawi successfully established a human experimental model of pneumococcal carriage with serotype 6B, revealing pre-existing pro-inflammatory nasal mucosal responses and altered mucosal immune cell recruitment post bacterial challenge, indicating the crucial role of nasal mucosal immune responses in influencing carriage status.
Article
Pediatrics
Nienke N. Hagedoorn, Joany M. Zachariasse, Dorine Borensztajn, Elise Adriaansens, Ulrich von Both, Enitan D. Carrol, Irini Eleftheriou, Marieke Emonts, Michiel van der Flier, Ronald de Groot, Jethro Adam Herberg, Benno Kohlmaier, Emma Lim, Ian Maconochie, Federico Martinon-Torres, Ruud Gerard Nijman, Marko Pokorn, Irene Rivero-Calle, Maria Tsolia, Dace Zavadska, Werner Zenz, Michael Levin, Clementien Vermont, Henriette A. Moll
Summary: The study found that a high Shock Index is associated with serious illness in febrile children, but its value for ruling out serious illness is inadequate, suggesting that the Shock Index is not suitable as a screening tool for all febrile children in the emergency department.
ARCHIVES OF DISEASE IN CHILDHOOD
(2022)
Review
Critical Care Medicine
Kusum Menon, Luregn J. Schlapbach, Samuel Akech, Andrew Argent, Paolo Biban, Enitan D. Carrol, Kathleen Chiotos, Mohammod Jobayer Chisti, Idris V. R. Evans, David P. Inwald, Paul Ishimine, Niranjan Kissoon, Rakesh Lodha, Simon Nadel, Claudio Flauzino Oliveira, Mark Peters, Benham Sadeghirad, Halden F. Scott, Daniela C. de Souza, Pierre Tissieres, R. Scott Watson, Matthew O. Wiens, James L. Wynn, Jerry J. Zimmerman, Lauren R. Sorce
Summary: The study aimed to determine the associations of demographic, clinical, laboratory, organ dysfunction, and illness severity variable values with sepsis, severe sepsis, or septic shock in children with infection, as well as multiple organ dysfunction or death in children with sepsis, severe sepsis, or septic shock. The findings revealed significant associations between multiple markers of organ dysfunction and the outcomes of interest.
CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Sarah Neill, Lucy Bray, Bernie Carter, Damian Roland, Enitan D. Carrol, Natasha Bayes, Lucie Riches, Joanne Hughes, Poornima Pandey, Jennifer O'Donnell, Sue Palmer-Hill
Summary: This study retrospectively identified factors affecting the timing of hospital admission for children under five with serious infectious illness. The analysis found that parents and professionals often have difficulties recognizing symptoms of serious illness in young children, and they can feel socially constrained from seeking help.
BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
(2022)
Letter
Infectious Diseases
Martin J. Llewelyn, Robert M. West, Enitan D. Carrol, Philip Pallmann, Jonathan A. T. Sandoe
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Nienke N. Hagedoorn, Navin P. Boeddha, Daniela S. Kohlfuerst, Suzanne Anderson, Enitan D. Carrol, Paul Agapow, Michiel van der Flier, Jan Hazelzet, Jethro Herberg, Taco Kuijpers, Michael Levin, Federico Martinon-Torres, Angelique van Rijswijk, Luregn J. Schlapbach, Clementien Vermont, Werner Zenz, Willem A. Dik, Gertjan Driessen, Marieke Emonts
Summary: This study described the variation of hemostasis proteins in children with bacterial infections caused by different pathogens, highlighting the importance of hemostatic disturbances in both meningococcal and nonmeningococcal pediatric bacterial infections. High thrombomodulin and ADAMTS-13 levels were found to be good predictors of mortality.
PEDIATRIC CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Rebecca A. F. Lenihan, Juliana Ang, Philip Pallmann, Sam T. Romaine, Cherry-Ann Waldron, Emma Thomas-Jones, Nahida Miah, Enitan D. Carrol
Summary: This study evaluated the role of mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM) in pediatric sepsis patients. The results showed that high levels of MR-proADM and procalcitonin were associated with increased risk of requiring PICU/HDU admission, fluid resuscitation, and bacterial infection. Incorporating MR-proADM into clinical risk stratification may help clinicians make better decisions.
PEDIATRIC CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Holly Saron, Bernie Carter, Sarah Siner, Jennifer Preston, Matthew Peak, Fulya Mehta, Steven Lane, Caroline Lambert, Dawn Jones, Hannah Hughes, Jane Harris, Leah Evans, Sarah Dee, Chin-Kien Eyton-Chong, Enitan D. Carrol, Gerri Sefton
Summary: This study explores the acceptability of a newly implemented electronic surveillance system among parents and identifies trust as a key factor that underpins the recording and monitoring of children's vital signs.
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Joanne Euden, Philip Pallmann, Detelina Grozeva, Mahableshwar Albur, Stuart E. Bond, Lucy Brookes-Howell, Paul Dark, Thomas Hellyer, Susan Hopkins, Philip Howard, Martin J. Llewelyn, Wakunyambo Maboshe, Iain J. McCullagh, Margaret Ogden, Helena Parsons, David Partridge, Neil Powell, Dominick Shaw, Bethany Shinkins, Tamas Szakmany, Stacy Todd, Emma Thomas-Jones, Robert M. West, Enitan D. Carrol, Jonathan A. T. Sandoe, PEACH Study Grp
Summary: SARS-CoV-2, the novel virus responsible for COVID-19 pandemic, has led to an increase in antibiotic use in hospitalized patients due to concerns of secondary bacterial infections and assumptions of positive response to antibiotic therapy. The PEACH study aims to compare patient outcomes between hospitals in England and Wales that used procalcitonin (PCT) testing during the first wave of COVID-19 and those that did not. The study will provide insights on the use of PCT testing in future waves of COVID-19 to prevent antibiotic overuse and protect patients.
METHODS AND PROTOCOLS
(2022)
Correction
Pediatrics
Navin P. Boeddha, Lucy Atkins, Ronald de Groot, Gertjan Driessen, Jan Hazelzet, Werner Zenz, Enitan D. Carrol, Suzanne T. Anderson, Federico Martinon-Torres, Philipp K. A. Agyeman, Rachel Galassini, Jethro Herberg, Michael Levin, Luregn J. Schlapbach, Marieke Emonts
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
(2023)
Correction
Pediatrics
Fabian J. S. van der Velden, Gabriella de Vries, Alexander Martin, Emma Lim, Ulrich von Both, Laura Kolberg, Enitan D. Carrol, Aakash Khanijau, Jethro A. Herberg, Tisham De, Rachel Galassini, Taco W. Kuijpers, Federico Martinon-Torres, Irene Rivero-Calle, Clementien L. Vermont, Nienke N. Hagedoorn, Marko Pokorn, Andrew J. Pollard, Luregn J. Schlapbach, Maria Tsolia, Irini Elefhteriou, Shunmay Yeung, Dace Zavadska, Colin Fink, Marie Voice, Werner Zenz, Benno Kohlmaier, Philipp K. A. Agyeman, Effua Usuf, Fatou Secka, Ronald de Groot, Michael Levin, Michiel van der Flier, Marieke Emonts
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Fabian J. S. van der Velden, Gabriella de Vries, Alexander Martin, Emma Lim, Ulrich von Both, Laura Kolberg, Enitan D. Carrol, Aakash Khanijau, Jethro A. Herberg, Tisham De, Rachel Galassini, Taco W. Kuijpers, Federico Martinon-Torres, Irene Rivero-Calle, Clementien L. Vermont, Nienke N. Hagedoorn, Marko Pokorn, Andrew J. Pollard, Luregn J. Schlapbach, Maria Tsolia, Irini Elefhteriou, Shunmay Yeung, Dace Zavadska, Colin Fink, Marie Voice, Werner Zenz, Benno Kohlmaier, Philipp K. A. Agyeman, Effua Usuf, Fatou Secka, Ronald de Groot, Michael Levin, Michiel van der Flier, Marieke Emonts
Summary: This study aims to assess and describe the causes and management of febrile illness in immunocompromised children. The study analyzed data from hospitals in nine European countries and Gambia. The etiology of febrile illness was found to be diverse, with one-third of cases remaining unknown. The justification for standard antibiotic treatment for every febrile immunocompromised child is still debatable.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Chantal D. Tan, Eline E. P. L. van der Walle, Clementien L. Vermont, Ulrich von Both, Enitan D. Carrol, Irini Eleftheriou, Marieke Emonts, Michiel van der Flier, Ronald de Groot, Jethro Herberg, Benno Kohlmaier, Michael Levin, Emma Lim, Ian K. Maconochie, Federico Martinon-Torres, Ruud G. Nijman, Marko Pokorn, Irene Rivero-Calle, Maria Tsolia, Shunmay Yeung, Werner Zenz, Dace Zavadska, Henriette A. Moll
Summary: Febrile children below 3 months are at higher risk for serious bacterial infections, leading to extensive diagnostics and treatment. This study found large practice variation in management, with limited guideline adherence but highest adherence for admission, indicating a cautious approach. Future studies should focus on guideline revision and new biomarkers to optimize management in young febrile children.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Dorine M. Borensztajn, Nienke N. Hagedoorn, Enitan D. Carrol, Ulrich von Both, Marieke Emonts, Michiel van der Flier, Ronald de Groot, Jethro Herberg, Benno Kohlmaier, Michael Levin, Emma Lim, Ian K. Maconochie, Federico Martinon-Torres, Ruud G. Nijman, Marko Pokorn, Irene Rivero-Calle, Maria Tsolia, Fabian J. S. van der Velden, Clementien Vermont, Dace Zavadska, Werner Zenz, Joany M. Zachariasse, Henriette A. Moll
Summary: Children with comorbidities are at a higher risk of bacterial infections, often requiring PICU admission and life-saving interventions. They show more severe illness and are diagnosed with serious conditions more frequently.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Cassio Lima, Shwan Ahmed, Yun Xu, Howbeer Muhamadali, Christopher Parry, Rachel J. McGalliard, Enitan D. Carrol, Royston Goodacre
Summary: Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that causes approximately 11 million deaths worldwide. Raman and infrared spectroscopy, as diagnostic tools, have the potential to rapidly detect bacterial infections. This study introduces a new technology that combines infrared and Raman spectra, and demonstrates its similarity and reproducibility in analyzing bacterial samples. The findings show different clustering patterns between the two methods, highlighting the complementary information provided by microbial pigments in Raman spectra. Overall, the combination of Raman and infrared spectroscopy has promising applications in clinical microbiology.
Meeting Abstract
Infectious Diseases
Joanne Euden, Philip Howard, Neil Powell, Martin J. Llewelyn, Tamas Szakmany, Mahableswhar Albur, Stuart E. Bond, Lucy Brookes-Howell, Paul Dark, Thomas P. Hellyer, Susan Hopkins, Iain J. McCullagh, Margaret Ogden, Philip Pallmann, Helena Parsons, David G. Partridge, Dominick E. Shaw, Bethany Shinkins, Stacy Todd, Emma Thomas-Jones, Robert West, Enitan D. Carrol, Jonathan A. T. Sandoe
JAC-ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
(2022)