Meningitis in a community with a high prevalence of tuberculosis and HIV infection

• Published in: Journal of the neurological sciences Vol. 162; no. 1; pp. 20 - 26
• Main Authors: Silber, Eli, Sonnenberg, Pamela, Ho, Kevin C, Koornhof, Hendrik J, Eintracht, Shaun, Morris, Lynn, Saffer, David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier B.V 1999; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Africa; AIDS Dementia Complex - epidemiology; AIDS/HIV; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the nervous system. Bacterial myositis; Biological and medical sciences; Cryptococcus; Epidemiology; Female; Gold; HIV; HIV Infections - diagnosis; HIV Infections - epidemiology; Human bacterial diseases; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Meningitis; Meningitis, Bacterial - diagnosis; Meningitis, Bacterial - epidemiology; Middle Aged; Mining; Prospective Studies; South Africa - epidemiology; Spinal Puncture; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - diagnosis; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - epidemiology; South Africa(Republic); Africa; South Africa; Cryptococcus; Meningitis; Tuberculosis; HIV; Epidemiology; Africa; Human; Immunopathology; Nervous system diseases; Prevalence; AIDS; Mycobacterial infection; Immune deficiency; Infection; Etiology; Viral disease; Central nervous system disease; Bacteriosis
• ISSN: 0022-510X; 1878-5883
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-510X(98)00259-7

Objectives: To evaluate the spectrum of aetiologies, and distinguishing clinical and laboratory features, of meningeal infection in a community with a high prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) and HIV infection.
Setting: A hospital serving mineworkers, originating from rural areas of Southern Africa.
Design: Prospective cohort of 60 consecutive lumbar punctures (LPs), performed for suspected meningitis.
Measurements: Clinical history and examination; concurrent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood samples; mortality status six months after entry to study.
Results: 38 of 57 patients (66.7%) were HIV-1 positive, 59.5% of whom had a CD4 count <200 cells/mm
3. Nine patients had tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and two had tuberculomas; four developed disease while on TB therapy. There was one case of multidrug, and two of isoniazid-resistant TBM. There were nine episodes of cryptococcal meningitis (seven patients), nine of aseptic meningitis, two of neurosyphilis and 20 normal LPs, including four with AIDS dementia complex (ADC). Ten patients with meningococcal infection, part of a larger outbreak, were significantly younger (
p=0.004). All patients with tuberculous, cryptococcal (most immune-suppressed
p<0.001) and aseptic meningitis were HIV-1 positive. Within six months, 19 patients had died. Death was associated with HIV positivity (
p=0.004), low CD4 count (
p<0.001) and a diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis, CNS TB or ADC.
Conclusion: HIV has a major impact on the burden of disease and mortality, with a predominance of opportunistic chronic meningitides, despite a meningococcal outbreak, in this community. Of concern is the development of TBM despite therapy, and the emergence of drug-resistant strains.