Background. Community-acquired recurrent bacterial meningitis in adults is a relatively rare disease. All previous data were derived from small retrospective case series.Methods. We prospectively evaluated episodes of recurrent bacterial meningitis in a nationwide cohort study in The Netherlands.Results. Thirty-four episodes of recurrent bacterial meningitis were identified among 31 patients; 3 patients experienced 2 episodes during the study period. The mean age was 43 years, and 25 (74%) of 34 episodes occurred in men. Predisposing conditions were involved in 26 (77%) of 34 episodes; the most common predisposing conditions were remote head injury (17 [53%] of 32 episodes) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage (9 [32%] of 28 episodes). Lumbar puncture revealed an individual CSF indicator of bacterial meningitis for almost all episodes (88%). The outcome was death for 5 (15%) of 34 episodes; 1 additional patient had a suboptimal score on the Glasgow Outcome Scale.Conclusion. We conclude that most patients with recurrent meningitis are male and have predisposing conditions, which, in most cases, are remote head injury or CSF leakage.

We assessed the value of screening for cognitive abnormalities in a chronically infected HIV population (N = 388) and investigated the association with clinical correlates. The mean age was 48 years (±11), the majority of the patients were male (89%), the median duration of infection was 6 years [interquartile range (IQR) = 2-12], the median CD count was 600 (IQR = 450-780), and 326 (84%) had a viral load below 200 copies/mL. Screening for cognitive complaints was applied using the three Simioni questions and the international HIV dementia scale (iHDS). Neuropsychological assessment (NPA) included 13 well-validated tests assessing motor speed, concentration, and memory. A total of 69 patients completed the NPA. CD4 (nadir), viral load, combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) duration, and the presence of comorbidities were evaluated for associations with NPA result. A total of 127 (33%) reported cognitive complaints during screening. The sensitivity and specificity of the Simioni questions were 82% and 24%, respectively. Adding the iHDS resulted in a sensitivity of 50% and a specificity of 73%. A CD4 nadir count <50 cells/m was associated with an abnormal NPA (p = 0.01). Comorbidities were more prevalent in patients with an abnormal NPA, although not statistically significant (p = 0.276). Age, current CD4, viral load, and cART duration were not associated with abnormal NPA. The authors conclude that current screening strategies are insufficient in detecting HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder. A low CD4 nadir is associated with poor neurocognitive outcome in HIV.

Few cases of bacterial meningitis during pregnancy have been reported in the literature, and the causative microorganisms and prognosis of bacterial meningitis during pregnancy are unclear. In a 6-year period we identified six cases of bacterial meningitis in pregnant women. All were multigravida and gestational age at presentation ranged from 5 to 39 weeks. Predisposing factors were present in five patients and consisted of otitis in four patients. The causative organism was Streptococcus pneumoniae in all patients. Two patients died, both due to florid septic shock and brain herniation. Foetal outcome was good in five cases; one woman had a miscarriage 3 weeks after the episode of bacterial meningitis. We reviewed the literature on bacterial meningitis during pregnancy and identified 42 cases of bacterial meningitis. Twenty-five of these patients had pneumococcal meningitis and seven had meningitis caused by L. monocytogenes. We found that pneumococcal meningitis during pregnancy can be rapidly fatal and is associated with foetal death, especially in the first trimester. L. monocytogenes meningitis was associated with a high rate of neonatal deaths.