Trends in the diagnosis and management of infective meningitis at a tertiary centre over 10 years: a retrospective cohort study providing further evidence for culture-independent diagnostics

Simon C Williams; Oliver Topping; Georgios Tsermoulas; James Scriven; Ghaniah Hassan-Smith

doi:10.52964/AMJA.1010

Trends in the diagnosis and management of infective meningitis at a tertiary centre over 10 years: a retrospective cohort study providing further evidence for culture-independent diagnostics

Simon C Williams^*
, Oliver Topping
, Georgios Tsermoulas
, James Scriven
, Ghaniah Hassan-Smith

^*Corresponding author for this work

Microbes, Infection and Microbiomes

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Objective: This retrospective study analysed clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and management of infective meningitis in the UK, aiming to identify emerging trends and pitfalls 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 cases (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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	75-85
Number of pages	11
Journal	Acute Medicine
Volume	24
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.52964/AMJA.1010
Publication status	Published - 19 Feb 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Humans
Retrospective Studies
Male
Female
Tertiary Care Centers
Adult
Middle Aged
United Kingdom/epidemiology
Spinal Puncture
Meningitis, Viral/diagnosis
Meningitis, Bacterial/diagnosis
Aged
Meningitis/diagnosis
Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use

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title = "Trends in the diagnosis and management of infective meningitis at a tertiary centre over 10 years: a retrospective cohort study providing further evidence for culture-independent diagnostics",

abstract = "Objective: This retrospective study analysed clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and management of infective meningitis in the UK, aiming to identify emerging trends and pitfalls 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 cases (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.",

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author = "Williams, \{Simon C\} and Oliver Topping and Georgios Tsermoulas and James Scriven and Ghaniah Hassan-Smith",

year = "2026",

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doi = "10.52964/AMJA.1010",

language = "English",

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pages = "75--85",

journal = "Acute Medicine",

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Trends in the diagnosis and management of infective meningitis at a tertiary centre over 10 years: a retrospective cohort study providing further evidence for culture-independent diagnostics. / Williams, Simon C; Topping, Oliver; Tsermoulas, Georgios et al.
In: Acute Medicine, Vol. 24, No. 2, 19.02.2026, p. 75-85.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Trends in the diagnosis and management of infective meningitis at a tertiary centre over 10 years

T2 - a retrospective cohort study providing further evidence for culture-independent diagnostics

AU - Williams, Simon C

AU - Topping, Oliver

AU - Tsermoulas, Georgios

AU - Scriven, James

AU - Hassan-Smith, Ghaniah

PY - 2026/2/19

Y1 - 2026/2/19

N2 - Objective: This retrospective study analysed clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and management of infective meningitis in the UK, aiming to identify emerging trends and pitfalls 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 cases (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.

AB - Objective: This retrospective study analysed clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and management of infective meningitis in the UK, aiming to identify emerging trends and pitfalls 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 cases (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.

KW - Humans

KW - Retrospective Studies

KW - Male

KW - Female

KW - Tertiary Care Centers

KW - Adult

KW - Middle Aged

KW - United Kingdom/epidemiology

KW - Spinal Puncture

KW - Meningitis, Viral/diagnosis

KW - Meningitis, Bacterial/diagnosis

KW - Aged

KW - Meningitis/diagnosis

KW - Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use

U2 - 10.52964/AMJA.1010

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M3 - Article

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SN - 1747-4884

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SP - 75

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JO - Acute Medicine

JF - Acute Medicine

IS - 2

ER -

Trends in the diagnosis and management of infective meningitis at a tertiary centre over 10 years: a retrospective cohort study providing further evidence for culture-independent diagnostics

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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