Objectives We tended to evaluate the effectiveness of prophylactic antibiotics for preventing meningitis in patients with BSF. Method We searched the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library Issue 3, 2005), MEDLINE (1966 to September 2005), EMBASE (1974 to June 2005), and LILACS (1982 to September 2005). We also performed an electronic search of meeting proceedings from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (1997 to September 2005) and handsearched the abstracts of meeting proceedings of the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (1995, 1999 and 2003). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing any antibiotic versus placebo or no intervention were identified. We also identified non-RCTs to perform a separate meta-analysis to compare results. At least two authors independently appraised the quality and extracted the data of each trial. Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 4.2 software. Results Five RCTs and 17 non-RCTs comparing different types of antibiotic prophylaxis with placebo or no intervention in patients with BSF were identified. Most trials presented insufficient methodological detail. All studies included meningitis in their primary outcome. Overall, we evaluated 208 participants from the four RCTs that were considered suitable for inclusion in the meta-analysis. There were no significant differences between antibiotic prophylaxis groups and control groups in terms of reduction of the frequency of meningitis, all-cause mortality, meningitis-related mortality, and need for surgical correction in patients with CSF leakage. We performed a subgroup analysis to evaluate the primary outcome in patients with and without CSF leakage. We also completed a meta-analysis of all the identified controlled non-RCTs (enrolling a total of 2 168 patients), producing results consistent with the randomised data. Conclusions Currently available evidence from RCTs does not support prophylactic antibiotic use in patients with BSF, whether there is evidence of CSF leakage or not. Until more research is completed, the effectiveness of antibiotics in patients with BSF cannot be determined because studies published to date are flawed by biases. Large, appropriately designed RCTs are needed.
ObjectiveTo investigate the epidemiological and economic burden of acute meningitis and encephalitis syndrome (AMES) in Jinan, so as to provide references for prevention and control of AMES. MethodsThe monitoring data of the AMES Special Reporting System of Jinan City from 2007 to 2014 was collected and the epidemiological characteristics of AMES were analyzed. A questionnaire survey was performed in AMES patients reported in 2013 to collect the basic information, prognosis, medical and non-medical expenses etc. of patients. The DALYs and economic burden of AMES were estimated by using SPSS 13.0 software. ResultsThe average incidence rate of AMES in Jinan was 8.49/100 000 through 2007 to 2014 and the mortality was 4.96‰. The total DALYs were 36 659.51 and the average DALY was 8.27.77.86% were aged less than 14 years old. The average direct economic burden of each case was 19.5 thousand RMB and the average indirect economic burden caused by DALYs was 69.1 thousand RMB. ConclusionThere's heavy burden from AMES, and measures should be made to reduce the incidence and economic burden.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical, laboratory and imaging evaluation, treatment and prognosis of patients with idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis (IHP) with ophthalmic manifestations as the first symptom.MethodsA retrospective case analysis. Eight patients displaying symptoms of IHP were recruited from the Neuro-ophthalmology Department in the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2016 to April 2019 were inculed in this study. There were 6 males and 2 females, aged from 11 to 65 years, with an average age of 48.00±19.08 years. The course of disease ranged from 30 days to 7.5 years, with an average course of 17.00±30.08 months. The age, symptoms and signs of all patients were recorded. All patients underwent ophthalmic examination, orbit or brain MRI or CT examinations, blood routine examination, biochemistry, tumor markers, immunity, hepatitis B, syphilis, HIV, thyroid function and other laboratory tests, and lumbar puncture was performed to measure the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure and indicators. The clinical manifestations, orbital or brain MRI imaging and laboratory examination characteristics were summarized. Treatment and prognosis were also observed.ResultsIn total of 8 patients, visual loss was presented in 6 patients, visual loss and diplopia were presented in 1 patient, and diplopia was presented in 1 patient. Binocular involvement in 7 patients and monocular involvement in 1 patient. Other symptoms including headache and hear loss and so on. Optic disc edema in 1 eye and optic disc pallor in 6 eyes were reviewed by fundus examination. The laboratory examination showed that the angiotensin converting enzyme abnormal in 4 patients, the anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody abnormal in 3 patients and immunoantibodies positive in 3 patients. CSF measurements showed that the protein level elevated in all patients. Orbit and/or brain MRI and CT examination showed that optic nerve involvement in 6 patients, oculomotor nerve involvement in 1 patient, and cavernous sinus region involvement in 2 patients. Glucocorticoid was effective in all patients, and the visual acuity significantly improved in 4 patients, the diplopia was completely resolved in 2 patients, and the disease modifying therapy (DMT) was combined to prevent recurrence in 7 patients. No recurrence was observed in an average follow-up time of 26.63±16.55 months.ConclusionsIHP patients may be first visit an ophthalmologist due to vision loss in bilateral eyes simultaneous or sequentially. IHP patients are often associated with headache and other cranial nerve paralysis symptoms. Definitive diagnosis of IHP depends on imaging examination. Glucocorticoid treatment is effective in early phase, but it is tendency to progress and relapse, suggesting combined with DMT as early as possible.