Observational studyBMC infectious diseases2016
Tuberculous meningitis is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in adults with central nervous system infections in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia: an observational study.
Observational study in BMC infectious diseases, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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17 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 28 citations in OpenAlex.
- Microbiological diagnosis and mortality of tuberculosis meningitis: Systematic review and meta-analysis.PloS one · 2023Pooled it
- Clinical scoring systems for diagnosing tuberculous meningitis: A systematic review.World journal of critical care medicine · 2026Article
- MMPs and NETs are detrimental in CNS-tuberculosis with MMP Inhibition in CNS-tuberculosis mice improving survival.Journal of neuroinflammation · 2025Article
- Brain abscess caused byThe Journal of international medical research · 2024Review
- Think TB! A rare case of influenza and rapid progressive neurotuberculosis coinfection.Journal of travel medicine · 2024Article
- Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of central nervous system infections in a tertiary center: A retrospective study.Health science reports · 2023Article
- Clinical analysis of 103 cases of tuberculous meningitis complicated with hyponatremia in adults.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2022Article
- The epidemiological profile of meningitis among adults in a South African district hospital.The Pan African medical journal · 2022Observational
- Disentangling etiologies of CNS infections in Singapore using multiple correspondence analysis and random forest.Scientific reports · 2020Article
- Inclusion of Mechanical Ventilation in Severity Staging of Tuberculous Meningitis Improves Outcome Prediction.The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2020Article
- Development and validation of a risk score to predict mortality during TB treatment in patients with TB-diabetes comorbidity.BMC infectious diseases · 2019Article
- A New Scoring System for the Differential Diagnosis between Tuberculous Meningitis and Viral Meningitis.Journal of Korean medical science · 2018Article
- Prognostic score to predict mortality during TB treatment in TB/HIV co-infected patients.PloS one · 2018Article
- Article
- Optic disc swelling in a patient with tuberculous meningitis: a diagnostic challenge.BMJ case reports · 2017Article
- Observational
- Comparison of clinical features and prognostic factors in HIV-negative adults with cryptococcal meningitis and tuberculous meningitis: a retrospective study.BMC infectious diseases · 2017Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 4 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundCentral nervous system (CNS) infections are a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality globally. However, most published studies have been conducted in developed countries where the epidemiology and aetiology differ significantly from less developed areas. Additionally, there may be regional differences due to variation in the socio-economic levels, public health services and vaccination policies. Currently, no prospective studies have been conducted in Sabah, East Malaysia to define the epidemiology and aetiology of CNS infections. A better understanding of these is essential for the development of local guidelines for diagnosis and management.
methodsWe conducted a prospective observational cohort study in patients aged 12 years and older with suspected central nervous system infections at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia between February 2012 and March 2013. Cerebrospinal fluid was sent for microscopy, biochemistry, bacterial and mycobacterial cultures, Mycobacterium tuberculosis polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and multiplex and MassCode PCR for various viral and bacterial pathogens.
resultsA total of 84 patients with clinically suspected meningitis and encephalitis were enrolled. An aetiological agent was confirmed in 37/84 (44 %) of the patients. The most common diagnoses were tuberculous meningitis (TBM) (41/84, 48.8 %) and cryptococcal meningoencephalitis (14/84, 16.6 %). Mycobacterium tuberculosis was confirmed in 13/41 (31.7 %) clinically diagnosed TBM patients by cerebrospinal fluid PCR or culture. The acute case fatality rate during hospital admission was 16/84 (19 %) in all patients, 4/43 (9 %) in non-TBM, and 12/41 (29 %) in TBM patients respectively (p = 0.02).
conclusionTBM is the most common cause of CNS infection in patients aged 12 years or older in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia and is associated with high mortality and morbidity. Further studies are required to improve the management and outcome of TBM.
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