Articles tagged with Meningitis
A large-scale genetic study identified key genetic markers linked to developing meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia. The research suggests innate differences in natural defences leave individuals vulnerable to the bacteria.
Three unusual cases of patients with listerial meningitis were presented, highlighting that Listeriosis in developing countries does not follow the usual pattern. The cases did not match the typical profile of newborns or elderly individuals, suggesting a different risk factor profile in these regions.
Researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles will investigate how a type of white blood cell called macrophages help bacteria like E. coli accumulate in the blood and enter the brain. This understanding could lead to the development of treatments to prevent meningitis buildup and infection.
A recent study suggests that nitric oxide synthase inhibition may be a promising approach to treating neonatal meningitis caused by Escherichia coli K1. The research found that inhibiting inducible nitric oxide synthase enhanced phagocytosis of the bacteria, reducing pathogen load and brain damage.
Studies estimate that pneumococcal disease caused about 826,000 deaths in children aged 1-59 months, while Hib disease caused around 371,000 deaths. These figures highlight the importance of effective interventions and vaccines to reduce child mortality and attain Millennium Development Goal 4
Researchers have developed novel peptide nanoparticles that effectively seek out and destroy bacteria and fungal cells causing fatal brain infections. The nanoparticles can traverse the blood-brain barrier, offering a superior alternative to existing treatments for brain infections.
Scientists have identified a method to predict which HIV-positive individuals are most susceptible to deadly fungal meningitis. The study found that people with low levels of IgM memory B cells are more likely to develop the disease, suggesting a genetic predisposition.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham have identified a key mechanism behind bacterial meningitis, offering new avenues for treatment and vaccine development. The discovery could save hundreds of children's lives and provide broad protection against this deadly disease.
New research finds that universal childhood vaccination against meningococcal C has significantly reduced the incidence of the most deadly strain of bacterial meningitis in Canada. Provinces with early implementation of the vaccine program showed a dramatic decline in cases, while those introduced later showed no major changes.
Researchers discovered how meningitis bacteria use a protein to disguise themselves as human cells, evading the immune system. This finding could lead to improved vaccines against meningitis B, which accounts for most UK cases. The bacterial protein can be modified to generate a stronger immune response.
A pediatric vaccine has been found to be highly effective in preventing pneumococcal meningitis, a deadly disease that affects young children. The vaccine, PCV7, protects against seven common pneumococcal types, accounting for over 80% of cases in young children, and has been shown to decrease rates by 30-64% in both children and adults.
A new study found that a fractional dose of a commonly used meningitis vaccine is as effective as the full dose, allowing for more efficient use of scarce vaccine resources. The research was conducted in Uganda and suggests that using 1/5 doses could be an alternative in mass vaccination campaigns during epidemics.
Researchers found that immune responses to a partial dose of a meningitis vaccine were comparable to a full dose, making fractional dosing an alternative in mass vaccination campaigns. This strategy could help control outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa, where meningitis epidemics occur nearly every year.
The UCAR project aims to provide long-term weather forecasts to medical officials in Africa to target vaccination programs and reduce meningitis epidemics. The forecasts will be used to focus on regions most at risk, pulling back from areas that are about to get rain, and helping vulnerable populations.
Researchers found that immune cells known as killer T cells recruit other accessory cells to drive the disease, causing blood vessel damage. This discovery offers a new avenue for possible treatments for deadly meningitis.
A large multicenter study found that corticosteroids do not reduce mortality or hospital stays in children with bacterial meningitis. The study analyzed medical records of 2,780 children and showed no significant difference in outcomes between those who received and did not receive corticosteroids.
A study published in JAMA found that corticosteroids do not reduce the risk of death or shorten hospital stays for children with bacterial meningitis. The study included over 2,700 children treated for bacterial meningitis and analyzed their outcomes after receiving or not receiving corticosteroid therapy.
Researchers have discovered that Properdin, a protein linked to defence against meningitis, plays a more vital role than previously understood in the body's immune defence system. The study also found that Properdin can aggravate organ damage in certain conditions.
A study found that about 60% of people with severe West Nile infection continue to experience symptoms years after infection. Most recovery takes place within two years following infection.
A new study from Bangladesh found that routine Hib vaccination prevented over one-third of life-threatening pneumonia cases and approximately 90% of Hib meningitis cases. The vaccine has been shown to be a feasible and highly effective way of preventing death related to Hib pneumonia and meningitis in Asian children.
Researchers found that TRAIL limits excessive immune responses in bacterial meningitis, decreasing brain cell death. The study suggests that TRAIL may be used as an anti-inflammatory agent in invasive bacterial infections.
Researchers found that the polysaccharide vaccine can reduce meningitis cases by up to 72% in subsequent epidemics, making it an ideal tool for preventive vaccination strategy. A more cost-effective conjugated vaccine is also being developed to improve access to vaccines in African countries.
A set of guidelines has been developed to predict the risk of bacterial meningitis in children with cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis. The Bacterial Meningitis Score correctly identified very low-risk patients as having a near-zero risk of bacterial meningitis, allowing for more targeted treatment.
A study by Baylor College of Medicine found that early identification and treatment of hearing loss in children with bacterial meningitis can minimize its impact on social interactions. Children suffering from the Streptococcus form of meningitis were more likely to experience hearing loss.
Researchers identified risk factors associated with hearing loss in children with bacterial meningitis, including Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis. Length of hospitalization, seizures, and cerebrospinal fluid protein levels were significant predictors for hearing loss.
Researchers developed a new, simple, and accurate dipstick test to identify the cause of bacterial meningitis outbreaks in Africa. The test uses patient spinal fluid and can determine the presence of four common meningococcus groups, paving the way for targeted treatment decisions.
Researchers found that combining pesticides disrupts frog development, causing delayed maturation, retarded growth, and increased susceptibility to infections. The study suggests that the interaction between pesticides and environmental factors may be a major contributor to amphibian decline.
Rates of severe infections due to Streptococcus pneumoniae have dramatically fallen among children and adults over 65, thanks to pneumococcal vaccination of infants. The vaccine has shown spillover effects, reducing invasive infections among older adults.
Researchers identified a novel GBS gene, iagA, that facilitates the bacteria's interaction with host cells by synthesizing a glycolipid anchor. This discovery contributes to understanding the molecular pathogenesis of invasive GBS infection, highlighting the importance of proper cell surface anchoring for bacterial invasion and virulence.
A gene called iagA anchors LTA on the bacterial cell surface, allowing bacteria to cross into the central nervous system. Removing the iagA gene from Streptococcus inhibited bacterial interactions with the blood-brain barrier, reducing mortality rates up to 90% in mice.
Researchers discovered a virus-like bacteriophage inserted into genetic material of hyperinvasive N. meningitidis strains, making them more likely to cause disease. The stowaway may help bacteria enter bloodstream, disrupting immune response.
Research links seasonal climate variations to meningitis outbreaks in Sahelo-Sudanian Africa. The study suggests that Harmattan winds drive the transmission of meningococcus bacteria, leading to epidemic cycles.
The meningococcal serogroup C conjugate (MCC) vaccine programme has successfully controlled the incidence of meningitis C, with high short-term effectiveness and substantial herd immunity. However, long-term efficacy remains unknown, with protection diminishing in children vaccinated in early infancy.
A new vaccine has been shown to significantly reduce racial disparities in childhood pneumonia and meningitis incidence. By 2002, the vaccine had led to a decline of invasive pneumococcal disease cases among blacks by 46%, compared to a 36% decrease among whites.
Researchers found that 36% of infants were hospitalized, while 64% received treatment outside the hospital. Despite guideline non-adherence, infant mortality rates remained low.
The Prevnar vaccine, developed at the University of Rochester, has shown remarkable real-world effectiveness in reducing invasive pneumococcal infections by 69% among children under two years old. This translates to approximately 20,000 fewer cases of infection each year in the United States.
Researchers discovered that a high level of perceived life stress was associated with low antibody levels in students after receiving the meningitis C vaccine. Low psychological well-being, such as feeling anxious or under strain, was also linked to low antibody levels.
Researchers at UT Southwestern and Children's will develop protocols and procedures for a thermocycler called GeneXpert, which rapidly processes and analyzes DNA samples. The new testing methods should allow children to leave the hospital sooner or avoid hospitalization altogether, with results available within hours.
A rare form of meningitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis larvae was contracted in a Jamaican restaurant outbreak linked to contaminated romaine lettuce. The lettuce, imported from the US, was the likely source of the infection, which affected 12 individuals and hospitalized nine.
Researchers found a significant decline in meningitis deaths among children, attributed to improvements in intensive care and treatment. The study revealed a 59% reduction in fatality rates over five years, with most cases resulting from septicaemia.
Researchers have identified a key mechanism involved in meningococcal disease, offering new insights into its treatment. A defect in the activation of Protein C could be treated with administration of active Protein C, bypassing the requirements for activation on blood vessels.
Researchers found that adolescents and young adults accounted for a relatively high proportion of all cases of meningococcal meningitis. The study revealed that infection in this age group led to death more often than expected due to higher rates of smoking, ecchymoses, and septic shock.
A new model for detecting early meningitis epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa has been developed, using weekly incidence thresholds to identify outbreaks. The model uses clinic-based weekly incidence of 5-10 cases per 100,000 inhabitants to detect all meningitis epidemics with high sensitivity.
Researchers investigated a 1992 outbreak of viral meningitis in a child care center, finding that handwashing reduced the risk of infection. Changing diapers was a key factor, with women who changed more diapers being at higher risk, while men were less likely to get infected if they washed their hands after changing diapers.
AmBisome, a liposomal formulation of amphotericin B, has been shown to sterilize the CSF significantly earlier than conventional amphotericin B, with at least equal clinical efficacy and lower nephrotoxicity. In a randomized multi-center study, low-dose AmBisome therapy produced a response rate of 68% in treating invasive aspergillosis.