Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey. aylnalty@hotmail.com
  • 2 Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey. gbozdayi@hotmail.com
  • 3 Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1 (ZBS-1), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany. michelj@rki.de
  • 4 Paediatric Infections Unit, Department of Paediatric, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey. meltemtemizhan@gmail.com
  • 5 Department of Paediatric, Ministry of Health Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Education Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. salihakanik@gmail.com
  • 6 Paediatric Infections Unit, Department of Paediatric, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara,. hasantezer@yahoo.com
  • 7 Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey. ozkul@ankara.edu.tr
  • 8 Department of Pathobiology and Medical Diagnostics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. kamruddinahmet@yahoo.com
  • 9 Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1 (ZBS-1), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany. nitschea@rki.de
  • 10 Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. korayergunay@gmail.com
J Infect Dev Ctries, 2020 06 30;14(6):572-579.
PMID: 32683347 DOI: 10.3855/jidc.12327

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In an attempt to identify a wide spectrum of viral infections, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens were collected from pediatric cases with the preliminary diagnosis of viral encephalitis/meningoencephalitis in two reference hospitals, from October 2011 to December 2015.

METHODOLOGY: A combination of nucleic acid-based assays, including in house generic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for enteroviruses, flaviviruses and phleboviruses, a commercial real-time PCR assay for herpesviruses and a commercial real time multiplex PCR, enabling detection of frequently-observed viral, bacterial and fungal agents were employed for screening.

RESULTS: The microbial agent could be characterized in 10 (10%) of the 100 specimens. Viral etiology could be demonstrated in 7 (70%) specimens, which comprises Human Herpesvirus 6 (4/7), Herpes Simplex virus type1 (2/7) and Enteroviruses (1/7). In 3 specimens (30%), Streptococcus pneumoniae, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus were detected via the multiplex PCR, which were also isolated in bacteriological media. All specimens with detectable viral nucleic acids, as well as unreactive specimens via nucleic acid testing remained negative in bacteriological cultures.

CONCLUSIONS: Herpes and enteroviruses were identified as the primary causative agents of central nervous system infections in children. Enterovirus testing must be included in the diagnostic work-up of relevant cases.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.