Emerging Microbes and Infections (Dec 2022)

Outbreak of central nervous system infections among children in Thai Binh, Viet Nam

  • Duc Long Phi,
  • Xuan Duong Tran,
  • Minh Manh To,
  • Hai Yen Dang,
  • Thi Dung Pham,
  • Thi Thu Trang Vu,
  • Trong Kiem Tran,
  • Manh Dung Do,
  • Thi Thuy Vu,
  • Stéphane Ranque,
  • Laetitia Ninove,
  • Sylvie Pillet,
  • Philippe Colson,
  • Bernard La Scola,
  • Van Thuan Hoang,
  • Philippe Gautret

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/22221751.2022.2088405
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 1683 – 1692

Abstract

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From July to October 2020, 99 cases of central nervous system (CNS) infections were identified in Thai Binh Pediatric Hospital, Viet Nam, representing a five-fold increase compared to the baseline incidence during the previous five years. Clinical data were retrospectively collected. Cerebrospinal fluid specimens (CSF) were secondarily tested for pathogens using viral culture and PCR assays. Patient median age was 5 years (0–12 years); 58.6% were male. Of these children, 83.8% had CSF white blood culture (WBC) counts of ≥ 10 cells/µL, including 58 of 99 (58.6%) with a WBC count ≥ 100 cells/µL. Overall, 72 (72.7%) patients had confirmed infections with a pathogen identified in the CSF, the majority of which (66) were enterovirus. Sequencing results suggested that the rise of incidence observed in 2020 was due to Echovirus 4 (n = 45), Echovirus 30 (n = 8), and Echovirus 6 (n = 1) circulation. A confirmed CNS infection was significantly associated with older age (≥5 years, OR = 3.64, p = 0.03) and with an increased WBC count in the CSF (OR = 6.38, p-value = 0.01 for WBCs from 10 to <100 and OR = 7.90, p-value = 0.002 for WBCs ≥100). Ninety-seven (97) of 99 (98.0%) children received empiric antimicrobial treatment, and 35 (35.3%) were treated with multiple antibiotics. Eighty-four (84) patients (84.9%) were discharged home, and 11 (11.1%) were transferred to the National Hospital because their condition had worsened. No deaths were recorded. Point-of-care tests, including real-time PCR assays to identify common pathogens, should be implemented for more accurate diagnosis and more appropriate antibiotic use.

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