Objective: This retrospective study analysed clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and management of infective meningitis patients at a UK-centre, aiming to identify emerging trends in the patient pathway.
Methods: A ten-year review of meningitis patients at a UK tertiary centre was conducted. Inclusion criteria encompassed signs/symptoms of meningitis with CSF WCC ≥4 cells/mm3 or causative pathogen identification.
Results: The study included 298 patients with infective meningitis were included (184 viral, 87 bacterial, 22 tuberculosis, 5 fungal). Key findings indicated underutilisation of culture-independent investigations, delayed administration of antibiotics, and lumbar puncture. Viral meningitis cases with a positively identified causative virus had shorter hospital stays.
Conclusion: Culture-independent investigations are under-utilised in meningitis diagnosis. Patients experience delays in essential interventions. Future advancements in rapid, point-of-care genomic sequencing could enhance diagnostic accuracy and speed.