The best way to fight back against meningitis? Knowledge.
Every day, meningitis changes lives – and claims lives – in every part of the world. But you have the power to change that. You can fight back by better knowing your enemy.
Thank you for your interest in our World Meningitis Day education program. Scroll down to find our ebook on pediatric meningitis/encephalitis, on-demand webinars, clinical case studies and more.
Ebook: Pediatric meningitis
Epidemiology trends
Clinical cases
Clinical case #1: Seeing beyond the symptoms with QIAstat-Dx ME Panel
Molecular assay performed: QIAstat‑Dx ME Panel
Clinical case #2: No antibiotics prescribed due to fast results from QIAstat-Dx ME Panel
Provided by Dr. José-Román Muñoz del Rey, Specialist in Microbiology and Parasitology at Virgen del Puerto Plasencia Hospital, Spain.
Molecular assay performed: QIAstat-Dx ME Panel
Value of syndromic testing
A modern breakthrough in meningitis/encephalitis diagnostics
When bacterial meningitis can be fatal within 24–48 hours and requires immediate medical attention, you need to be able to react faster.
The answer? Adding fast molecular diagnostics – specifically, syndromic PCR panel tests – to your diagnostic algorithm alongside standard-of-care methods.
The World Health Organization lists the expansion of access to fast molecular diagnostics as a crucial pillar in their plan to defeat meningitis by 2030 (6).
Syndromic testing provides fast and accurate pathogen identification, allowing for timely treatment to reduce patients' risk of severe complications. This approach is proven to dramatically reduce the time to diagnosis, increase diagnostic yield and improve patient management.
QIAstat-Dx Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel
See the targets
Learn on-demand
Further reading
References
- Cobo-Vázquez E, Aguilera-Alonso D, Carrasco-Colom J, Calvo C, Saavedra-Lozano J; PedGAS-net Working Group. Increasing incidence and severity of invasive Group A streptococcal disease in Spanish children in 2019-2022. Lancet Reg Health Eur. 2023;27:100597. doi:10.1016/j.lanepe.2023.100597
- Valcarcel Salamanca B, Cyr PR, Bentdal YE, et al. Increase in invasive group A streptococcal infections (iGAS) in children and older adults, Norway, 2022 to 2024. Euro Surveill. 2024;29(20):2400242. doi:10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.20.2400242
- From QIAstat-Dx Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel (Cat. No. 691611) epidemiology dashboards in QIAsphere Insights, January 2023 – December 2023 for EMEA
- Kadambari S, Abdullahi F, Celma C, Ladhani S. Epidemiological trends in viral meningitis in England: Prospective national surveillance, 2013-2023. J Infect. 2024;89(3):106223. doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2024.106223
- Akiva, M.H., Hakim, M.B., & Keidar-Friedman, D. (2024, May). EP397 / #1627: Viral meningitis in children and infants without cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis. Poster session presented at the European Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- WHO. Defeating Meningitis by 2030. https://www.who.int/initiatives/defeating-meningitis-by-2030
- Cailleaux M, Pilmis B, Mizrahi A, et al. Impact of a multiplex PCR assay (FilmArray®) on the management of patients with suspected central nervous system infections. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2020;39(2):293-297. doi:10.1007/s10096-019-03724-7
- Posnakoglou L, Siahanidou T, Syriopoulou V, Michos A. Impact of cerebrospinal fluid syndromic testing in the management of children with suspected central nervous system infection. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2020;39(12):2379-2386. doi:10.1007/s10096-020-03986-6
- Moffa MA, Bremmer DN, Carr D, et al. Impact of a multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay on the clinical management of adults undergoing a lumbar puncture for suspected community-onset central nervous system infections. Antibiotics (Basel). 2020;9(6):282. doi:10.3390/antibiotics9060282
* Data presented is for the QIAstat-Dx Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel (Cat. No. 691611); QIAstat-Dx Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel Instructions for Use. QIAGEN, January 2024.
** Cryptococcus neoformans/Cryptococcus gattii are both detected, but not differentiated, with QIAstat-Dx Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel.
In some cases, data cited pertains to the use of a device from another manufacturer.
QIAsphere data from connected institutions were used for scientific research purposes only after applying proper de-identification procedures and anonymization techniques, in accordance with HIPAA and GDPR privacy and data protection rules. Data is aggregated from QIAsphere-connected QIAstat-Dx instruments only.
The QIAstat-Dx ME Panel is indicated as an aid in the diagnosis of specific agents that cause meningitis and/or encephalitis, and results must be used in conjunction with other clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory data. Results from the QIAstat-Dx ME Panel are not intended to be used as the sole basis for diagnosis, treatment, or other patient management decisions. Positive results do not rule out co-infection with organisms not included in the QIAstat-Dx ME Panel. The agent or agents detected may not be the definite cause of the disease. Negative results do not preclude central nervous system (CNS) infection.
Product availability may differ from country to country based on regulations and approvals. Contact your country representative for further details. For up-to-date licensing information and product-specific disclaimers, see the respective QIAGEN kit instructions for use or user manual. QIAGEN instructions for use and user manuals are available at www.qiagen.com or can be requested from QIAGEN Technical Services (or your local distributor).