CNS Infection, Infection, Virus Disease
Conditions
Brief summary
Central Nervous System (CNS) infections are caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, helminths, with several clinical aspects. Studies in the literature generally focus on a single patient type, and no experiences have been reported in which immunosuppressed and immunocompetent adult and pediatric patients were simultaneously examined. Our study will include all possible patient types (immunocompetent adults, immunocompetent pediatric patients, and subjects immunosuppressed by co-softness), to try to more precisely define the clinical and population characteristics of patients who have had an episode of CNS viral infection. These indications may be useful in the future to more specifically guide diagnostic investigations on patients considered at risk.
Detailed description
The objectives are: 1) to verify whether the different categories of patients present a different distribution of etiological agents (Citomegalovirus, Herpes Simplex Virus 1, Herpes Simplex Virus 2, Human Herpesvirus 6, Varicella Zoster Virus, Epstein-Barr Virus, Enterovirus) for CNS infection; 2) to verify whether the course and clinical manifestations of the disease can be associated with the identified etiological agent and the type of patient; 3) to describe the results of instrumental tests (EEC and/or MRI and/or CT) in patients who tested positive for a neurotropic virus responsible for the infection.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
RETROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Patients whose CSF was analyzed for HSV-1, HSV-2, VZV, EV, EBV, CMV and HHV-6 between 01/01/2014 and 31/12/2024. * Obtaining informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
\- None
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Positivity to different etiological agents (CMV, HSV-1, HSV-2, HHV-6, VZV, EBV, EV) by patient type (pediatric, adult, immunocompetent, immunocompromised) | at enrolment | For the primary objective, all required molecular investigations of LCRs collected from patients with suspected viral meningitis will be selected from the management software used at the Virology Laboratory between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2024. Infectious episodes will be identified in relation to the positivity of the viral etiological agent, considering the result (positive or negative) obtained at the time of diagnosis, without having the need to re-examine the sample. An infectious episode is defined as a hospital admission event with a clinical picture of presumed meningitis of viral origin and consequent microbiological confirmation. Therefore, in case of multiple molecular investigations on the same patient during a single hospitalization, it will be considered as the only infectious event. On the other hand, in the event of multiple hospitalizations per single patient with suspected viral meningitis, they will be considered as different infectious episodes. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical course of the patient with episode of viral meningitis, taking into account the type of patient (pediatric, adult, immunocompetent, immunocompromised) and the pathogen | at enrolment | For secondary objectives, only positive cases of viral etiological agent will be considered and, by accessing the data recorded in the patient's medical record, information regarding symptoms, the outcome of the instrumental examination performed, and the course of the individual hospital stay will be retrieved. Post-discharge, only neurological sequelae will be considered at follow-up at \> 6 months, during the follow-up visit with the infectious disease physician. |
| Distribution of instrumental outcomes of EEC, MRI, CT (normal or non-normal), in the patient with infectious episode, taking into account the patient type (pediatric, adult, immunocompetent, immunocompromised) and the pathogen detected. | at enrolment | For secondary objectives, only positive cases of viral etiological agent will be considered and, by accessing the data recorded in the patient's medical record, information regarding symptoms, the outcome of the instrumental examination performed, and the course of the individual hospital stay will be retrieved. Post-discharge, only neurological sequelae will be considered at follow-up at \> 6 months, during the follow-up visit with the infectious disease physician. |
Countries
Italy
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORLiliana Gabrielli, MD
IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna
STUDY_CHAIRGiulio Virgili, MD
AUSL di Bologna
Outcome results
None listed