Diagnostic tools to tackle infectious causes of encephalitis and meningoencephalitis in immunocompetent adults in Europe.
Adults
Diagnostic tools
Encephalitis
Europe
Meningoencephalitis
Journal
Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
ISSN: 1469-0691
Titre abrégé: Clin Microbiol Infect
Pays: England
ID NLM: 9516420
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Apr 2019
Apr 2019
Historique:
received:
01
10
2018
revised:
19
12
2018
accepted:
23
12
2018
pubmed:
18
1
2019
medline:
18
7
2019
entrez:
18
1
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Encephalitis and meningoencephalitis imply inflammation of the brain parenchyma, and comprise many diagnostic entities, such as various infections and causes of dysimmunity. The cause remains unknown in around 50% of cases. To summarize the main infectious causes of encephalitis and meningoencephalitis acquired in Europe, and the diagnostic means to identify them. PubMed, ECDC and WHO websites, personal experience. The principal infectious causes of encephalitis and meningoencephalitis acquired in Europe in adults are discussed in this review, with special emphasis on the microbiological and imaging diagnostic approaches. The role of electroencephalography in diagnosing encephalitis is also mentioned. Among infections, viruses are more frequent than other pathogen types, and their epidemiology varies according to geographic area. A few bacteria, such as Listeria monocytogenes and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, are also to be considered. In contrast, parasites and fungi are rare encephalitis causes in Europe. Identifying the causative pathogen of infectious encephalitis and meningoencephalitis is complex because of the variety of pathogens, the epidemiology of which is determined by geography and environmental factors. Furthermore, despite extensive microbiological testing, many cases of encephalitis remain of unknown origin. Brain magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalography are useful complementary diagnostic tools, and newer unbiased sequencing technologies might help to fill in the diagnostic gap.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Encephalitis and meningoencephalitis imply inflammation of the brain parenchyma, and comprise many diagnostic entities, such as various infections and causes of dysimmunity. The cause remains unknown in around 50% of cases.
OBJECTIVES
OBJECTIVE
To summarize the main infectious causes of encephalitis and meningoencephalitis acquired in Europe, and the diagnostic means to identify them.
SOURCES
METHODS
PubMed, ECDC and WHO websites, personal experience.
CONTENT
BACKGROUND
The principal infectious causes of encephalitis and meningoencephalitis acquired in Europe in adults are discussed in this review, with special emphasis on the microbiological and imaging diagnostic approaches. The role of electroencephalography in diagnosing encephalitis is also mentioned. Among infections, viruses are more frequent than other pathogen types, and their epidemiology varies according to geographic area. A few bacteria, such as Listeria monocytogenes and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, are also to be considered. In contrast, parasites and fungi are rare encephalitis causes in Europe.
IMPLICATIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Identifying the causative pathogen of infectious encephalitis and meningoencephalitis is complex because of the variety of pathogens, the epidemiology of which is determined by geography and environmental factors. Furthermore, despite extensive microbiological testing, many cases of encephalitis remain of unknown origin. Brain magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalography are useful complementary diagnostic tools, and newer unbiased sequencing technologies might help to fill in the diagnostic gap.
Identifiants
pubmed: 30654044
pii: S1198-743X(18)30847-4
doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2018.12.035
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Review
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
408-414Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2019 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.