Microbial aspects and potential markers for differentiation between bacterial and viral meningitis among adult patients

Objectives Meningitis is a medical emergency with permanent disabilities and high mortality worldwide. We aimed to determine causative microorganisms and potential markers for differentiation between bacterial and viral meningitis. Methodology Adult patients with acute meningitis were subjected to lumber puncture. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) microorganisms were identified using Real-time PCR. PCT and CRP levels, peripheral and CSF-leucocyte count, CSF-protein and CSF-glucose levels were assessed. Results Out of 80 patients, infectious meningitis was confirmed in 75 cases; 38 cases were bacterial meningitis, 34 cases were viral meningitis and three cases were mixed infection. Higher PCT, peripheral and CSF-leukocytosis, higher CSF-protein and lower CSF-glucose levels were more significant in bacterial than viral meningitis patients. Neisseria meningitides was the most frequent bacteria and varicella-zoster virus was the most common virus. Using ROC analyses, serum PCT and CSF-parameters can discriminate bacterial from viral meningitis. Combined ROC analyses of PCT and CSF-protein significantly improved the effectiveness in predicting bacterial meningitis (AUC of 0.998, 100%sensitivity and 97.1%specificity) than each parameter alone (AUC of 0.951 for PCT and 0.996 for CSF-protein). Conclusion CSF-protein and serum PCT are considered as potential markers for differentiating bacterial from viral meningitis and their combination improved their predictive accuracy to bacterial meningitis.

Automated summary

Differentiating between viral and bacterial meningitis is crucial in determining the appropriate treatment. This study found that using serum PCT and CSF-parameters can effectively discriminate between the two types of meningitis, with the combination of PCT and CSF-protein significantly improving predictive accuracy for bacterial meningitis.