HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Carrol, E D Articles by Beeching, N J Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Carrol, E D Articles by Beeching, N J

Clinical and diagnostic findings of an echovirus meningitis outbreak in the north west of England

¹ Tropical and Infectious Diseases Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK
² Microbiology Laboratory, University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool, UK
³ Department of Microbiology, Central Pathology Laboratory, St James’ Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr M B J Beadsworth
Tropical and Infectious Diseases Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool L7 8XP, UK; mikebeadsworth{at}yahoo.com

Introduction: An outbreak of echovirus meningitis occurred in the north west of England in 2001. This paper reviewed the clinical features and the role of different diagnostic methods.

Methods: This was a prospective study of adults admitted to a regional infectious disease unit with a probable diagnosis of meningitis, March to August 2001.

Results: Half the 40 cases were male; median age was 28 (range 16–51) years. Fifteen of 38 (39.5%) were smokers, and 20 of 24 (83.3%) had close contact with children. Median (range) duration of symptoms was 1.1 (0.25–7) days. Symptoms included headache (100%), photophobia (87.5%), and nausea (67.5%), and severity ranged from minimal signs to those consistent with a meningoencephalitis. The diagnosis was confirmed virologically in 29 of 40 (72%); echovirus 30 was isolated from six. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) enterovirus polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was positive in 26 of 32 (81%), and CSF virus culture in 3 of 16 (19%). Thirty one per cent of CSF samples had a neutrophil predominance, and 3 of 29 (10%) virologically confirmed cases had normal CSF microscopy and biochemistry.

Conclusion: CSF microscopy may be normal or suggest bacterial meningitis in a substantial minority of cases of echovirus meningitis. CSF PCR for enterovirus seems to be more sensitive than virus culture of CSF, although PCR does not yield information on circulating virus type. Early and accurate diagnosis could reduce both use of parenteral antibiotics and length of hospital stay with both morbidity and cost implications. Close contact with children may be a risk factor, particularly if good hygiene measures are not practised.

Abbreviations: PCR, polymerase chain reaction; CSF, cerebrospinal fluid

Keywords: aseptic meningitis; viral; enterovirus; polymerase chain reaction; cerebrospinal fluid

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. Solomon, I. J Hart, and N. J Beeching Viral encephalitis: a clinician's guide Practical Neurology, October 1, 2007; 7(5): 288 - 305. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]