Tuberculous meningitis in adults: a prospective study at a tertiary referral centre in Sri Lanka.

INTRODUCTION: Central nervous system tuberculosis is the most severe form of extrapulmonary TB and it is associated with a substantial morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVES: To describe the demographic profile, clinical features, laboratory and imaging results of a cohort of adult patients with TBM (Tuberculous meningitis). METHODS: This study encompasses a prospective analysis of all adult cases of TBM diagnosed from 1st January 2010 to 31st December 2011 in the Neurology unit 2, National Hospital of Sri Lanka. Consensus case definitions for TBM were used for clinical case classification and patients were given a definite, probable, or possible tuberculous meningitis status accordingly. RESULTS: A total of 89 patients fulfilled the established diagnostic criteria for TBM and there were 22 definitive cases, 46 probable cases and 21 possible cases. The mean age of the series was 44 years and 56 (63%) were males. TBM presented with fever in 64 (71%), general constitutional symptoms in 61 (68%), headache in 53 (59%), and diminished level of consciousness in 36 (40%) patients. CSF biochemistry revealed elevated protein in all patients. MRI brain showed meningeal enhancement in 73 (82%). Twenty four (27%) died during hospitalisation and out of 65 who survived 44 (49%) had residual sequelae at the time of discharge. CONCLUSIONS: MRI evidence and biochemical analysis of CSF are still the main supportive diagnostic modalities. TBM is a relatively common but difficult to diagnose disease, which results in significant morbidity and mortality.

An outbreak of Aspergillus meningitis following spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section in Sri Lanka: a post-tsunami effect?

An outbreak of Aspergillus fumigatus meningitis occurred in 5 women following spinal anaesthesia, performed between 21 June and 17 July 2005 for caesarean section, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The patients' median age was 27 years. Different teams in 2 maternity hospitals gave spinal anaesthesia. Mean incubation period was 11.2 days. Fever, headache and nuchal rigidity were common presentations. Remittent fever continued despite broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics. Papilloedema, lateral rectus palsy, cerebral infarction and haemorrhage developed later. Three patients died. Cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis with low glucose yielded negative PCR for fungi. Fungal cultures subsequently grew Aspergillus fumigatus. A post-mortem of the first patient confirmed Aspergillus meningitis, followed by treatment with amphotericin B and voriconazole, that saved the lives of others. Visual and hearing impairment in one and complete recovery in the other were observed a year after treatment. Examination of unused plastic syringes, needles, cannulae, and ampoules of anaesthetic agents confirmed that 43 syringes from three different manufactures were contaminated with Aspergillus fumigatus. The stores for drugs and devices of the Ministry of Health were examined and found to be full of tsunami donations, while regular procurements of the Ministry were kept in a poorly maintained humid warehouse. Inadequate space for tsunami donations was identified as the most plausible explanation for sub-optimal storage. Withdrawal and incineration of all unused syringes controlled the outbreak. The survival of those aggressively treated for Aspergillus meningitis suggests in hindsight that the availability of diagnostic tests and specific treatment, and early recognition of the outbreak could have saved the lives of victims who died. Early life-threatening side-effects and permanent long term sequelae of antifungal medication stress the need to be cautious with empirical treatment in immuno-competent low-risk individuals.

Neurological complications of measles.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical features and course of neurological complications of measles. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Neurology Unit, Teaching Hospital, Kandy. PATIENTS: 10 patients admitted with neurological complications of measles during an outbreak. MEASUREMENTS: Assessment of clinical features and the neurological investigations. RESULTS: 6 had CSF IgM antibodies confirming a recent measles infection. 7 patients had encephalitis and 3 had myelitis. Complications had appeared 5 to 14 days after appearance of the rash. All patients with encephalitis had depressed level of consciousness (Glasgow coma scale 2 to 11) with seizures, 3 patients had lateralising signs, and assisted ventilation was required in 4. Cranial CTs were either normal or showed mild cerebral oedema. CSF analysis showed either normal or mildly raised protein without a cellular reaction. EEG in all 7 revealed diffuse delta activity. During the follow up period of 1 to 12 weeks, all showed a gradual improvement, except one who succumbed to respiratory complications of assisted ventilation. All others were left with some residual disability when last seen. Three patients with myelitis had symmetrical paraparesis. CSF protein was 60 to 80 mg/ml without a cellular reaction. All three improved without residual disability. CONCLUSIONS: Measles encephalitis is a life threatening complication. All three myelitis patients recovered completely within 5 to 8 weeks.