Direct molecular testing to assess the incidence of meningococcal and other bacterial causes of meningitis among persons reported with unspecified bacterial meningitis.
Confirmed and probable cases of invasive Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) infection are reportable in New York City. We conducted a study to identify Nm among culture-negative reports of bacterial and viral meningitis. During the study period, 262 reports of suspected meningitis were eligible. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens from 138 patients were obtained for testing. No Nm cases were detected. Results from real-time polymerase chain reaction and 16S on CSF specimens were concordant with hospital microbiology findings in 80%; however, other pathogenic organisms were detected in 14 culture-negative specimens. New York City's surveillance system appears to be effective at capturing cases of Nm meningitis. Nucleic acid testing is useful for detecting the presence of bacterial DNA when antibiotic therapy precedes lumbar puncture or bacterial cultures are negative. It remains unanswered whether culture-negative cases of Nm bacteremia are being missed by reportable disease surveillance.
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), NY, USA. Electronic address: aramautar@health.nyc.gov.
Arianne E
AE
Ramautar
Wadsworth Center (WC), New York State Department of Health, NY, USA.
Tanya A
TA
Halse
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), NY, USA.
Lola
L
Arakaki
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), NY, USA.
Mike
M
Antwi
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), NY, USA.
Paula
P
Del Rosso
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), NY, USA.
Marie
M
Dorsinville
Wadsworth Center (WC), New York State Department of Health, NY, USA.
Elizabeth
E
Nazarian
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), NY, USA.
Linda
L
Steiner-Sichel
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), NY, USA.
Lillian
L
Lee
Wadsworth Center (WC), New York State Department of Health, NY, USA.
Michelle
M
Dickinson
Wadsworth Center (WC), New York State Department of Health, NY, USA.
Danielle
D
Wroblewski
Wadsworth Center (WC), New York State Department of Health, NY, USA.
Nellie
N
Dumas
Wadsworth Center (WC), New York State Department of Health, NY, USA.
Kimberlee
K
Musser
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), NY, USA.
Beth
B
Isaac
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), NY, USA.
Jennifer
J
Rakeman
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), NY, USA.
Don
D
Weiss
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
16S; Bacterial meningitis; Cerebrospinal fluid; Neisseria meningitidis; Real-time PCR; Surveillance