Enterovirus Meningitis in South Australia (#282)
Enterovirus aseptic meningitis is usually a benign, self-limited illness that mainly affects children. It often occurs as outbreaks with both epidemic and endemic patterns of disease. The predominant serotypes cycle with varying periodicity within communities. Enterovirus infection can be associated with neurological complication such as aseptic meningitis, meningoencephalitis and poliomyelitis- like syndrome. Early diagnosis reduces the use of parenteral antibiotics and length of hospital stay with both morbidity and cost implications. During 2011 and 2102, 3 clusters of enterovirus meningitis patients were noted. Patients all presenting with meningitis were diagnosed with enterovirus detected in their cerebrospinal fluid (csf). Samples were screened using 5’ NCR RT-PCR. Viral culture was used to isolate enteroviruses from clinical specimens (stool, CSF or respiratory samples). Analysis of the partial VP1 and 5NCR gene of the isolates identified echovirus 6 and 11 for the June and November 2012 clusters and echovirus 18 for the 2011 outbreak. Analysis of the partial VP1 gene of isolates showed variation in sequence compared with sequences from GeneBank