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Introduction Knowing the epidemiology of acute meningitis may guide physicians to promptly administer appropriate empirical therapy, thereby minimizing morbidity and mortality. We aimed to determine the etiology, clinical manifestations, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings, and outcomes of patients with acute meningitis. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study among a total 89 adult (age ≥15 years) patients with acute meningitis. Results Among them, 48 (53.9%) patients were men; the median age (interquartile range; IQR) was 49 (32.1–63.8) years. The most common coexisting conditions were HIV infection (30%), prednisolone therapy (16.9%), and diabetes mellitus (15.7%). Common clinical presentations were fever (74%), headache (70.8%), and confusion (31.5%). Causes of acute meningitis were Cryptococcus neoformans (37%), bacteria (31.5%), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (27%), and viruses (4.5%). In multivariate logistic regression, predicting factors of acute bacterial meningitis were higher white blood cells (WBCs) in a complete blood count [odds ratio (OR) 1.01 per increase of 100 cells/mm3; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00–1.02, p = 0.031], no HIV infection (OR 0.08; 95% CI 0.01–0.72, p = 0.023), and higher serum sodium (OR 1.13; 95% CI 1.01–0.23, p = 0.029). Overall, the median (IQR) duration of hospitalization was 23 (11–29) days. A total 26 (29%) patients had complications, such as septic shock, hydrocephalus, seizure, and brain edema. The in-hospital mortality rate was 7.9%. Conclusions In this setting, the most common cause of acute meningitis in adults was cryptococcosis followed by tuberculosis. Awareness of local epidemiology and patients’ risk factors are important to initiate appropriate antimicrobial therapy.

Background There are limited data describing the care outcome of youth living with HIV in Asia. We assessed attrition and treatment outcomes among youths with behaviourly acquired HIV (BIY) and adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV (PIY) who initiated antiretroviral treatment (ART) through the National AIDS Program (NAP) in Thailand. Methods People living with HIV aged 10–24 years who initiated antiretroviral therapy (ART) from 2008 to 2013 through the Thai NAP and who were followed up until 2014 were included in the analysis. We assessed youths initiating ART: BIY aged 15–19 years (BIY1) and BIY aged 20–24 (BIY2) compared against PIY aged 10–14 years. Attrition rates (mortality and loss to follow-up [LTFU]) were calculated and potential associations were assessed using Cox regression. Logistic regression was used to assess associations with treatment failure. Results Of 11,954 individuals, 9909 (83%) were BIY with a median follow-up of 2.1 years and 17% were PIY with 4.2 years of follow-up. The median baseline CD4 cell count in BIY was higher (190 vs 154 cells/mm3) compared to PIY. Mortality rates were not significantly different among PIY (2.5 per 100 person years [PY], BIY1 3.1/100 PY and BIY2 2.9/100 PY, P=0.46). Compared to PIY with a crude LTFU rate of 2.9/100 PY, LTFU was higher in BIY1 (13.9/100 PY) and BIY2 (9.5/100 PY), P

Objectives In multisite human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) observational cohorts, clustering of observations often occurs within sites. Ignoring clustering may lead to “Simpson's paradox” (SP) where the trend observed in the aggregated data is reversed when the groups are separated. This study aimed to investigate the SP in an Asian HIV cohort and the effects of site-level adjustment through various Cox regression models. Study Design and Setting Survival time from combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) initiation was analyzed using four Cox models: (1) no site adjustment; (2) site as a fixed effect; (3) stratification through site; and (4) shared frailty on site. Results A total of 6,454 patients were included from 23 sites in Asia. SP was evident in the year of cART initiation variable. Model (1) shows the hazard ratio (HR) for years 2010–2014 was higher than the HR for 2006–2009, compared to 2003–2005 (HR = 0.68 vs. 0.61). Models (2)–(4) consistently implied greater improvement in survival for those who initiated in 2010–2014 than 2006–2009 contrasting findings from model (1). The effects of other significant covariates on survival were similar across four models. Conclusions Ignoring site can lead to SP causing reversal of treatment effects. Greater emphasis should be made to include site in survival models when possible.

Rationale Clinical features of central nervous system tuberculosis (CNS-TB) are nonspecific. The decision for treatment of the disease in an endemic area is challenging. Objectives We aimed to study predictive factors for a definite diagnosis and outcome of patients with CNS-TB. Methods A case-control study was performed in adults with a provisional diagnosis of CNS-TB in Thailand to determine predictive factors for a definite diagnosis of CNS-TB. Predictive factors for a definite diagnosis of CNS-TB were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression analysis. Factors associated with two-year mortality after the diagnosis of definite CNS-TB were determined using a cox regression analysis. Measurements and main results A total of 114 patients received a provisional diagnosis of CNS-TB during the study period. A median (interquartile range) age was 40.8 (31.7–55.4) years, and 75 patients (65.8%) were male. Of these, 66 cases (57.9%) had definite CNS-TB, and 43 cases (38.4%) had HIV coinfection. By logistic regression, age, confusion, and nausea/vomiting were associated with definite CNS-TB (odds ratio [OR] 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.93–0.99; p = 0.015, OR 2.86, 95% CI 1.03–7.94; p = 0.044, and OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.11–0.82; p = 0.019, respectively). In patients with definite CNS-TB, age and HIV coinfection were associated with two-year mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.07, 95% CI 1.01–1.13; p = 0.022, and HR 11.81, 95% CI 2.09–66.78; p = 0.005, respectively). Conclusions Younger age, confusion, and absence of nausea/vomiting are predictive factors of a definite diagnosis of CNS-TB. In patients with definite CNS-TB, older age and HIV coinfection are associated with higher mortality. The results of this study might be helpful for the management of suspected CNS-TB cases as well as predicting the prognosis of CNS-TB cases in an endemic area.

To determine the frequency, risk factors and mortality rate of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) of tuberculosis (TB) in patients co-infected with HIV/TB and receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART).A retrospective study was conducted in Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute and Ramathibodi Hospital, Thailand.There were 167 patients with a mean age of 34.5 years. Median (IQR) CD4 cell counts was 36 (15-69) cells/mm(3) and median (IQR) HIV RNA was 427,000 (189,000-750,000) copies/ml. ART was initiated at a median (IQR) duration of 2.2 (1.4-3.7) months after TB treatment. IRIS was identified in 21 (12.6%) patients. Patients with IRIS had a higher proportion of extrapulmonary TB than patients without IRIS (P0.001). By multivariate analysis, extrapulmonary TB was a risk factor for IRIS (odds ratio=8.225, 95% confidence interval=1.785-37.911, P=0.007). Of 21 patients with IRIS, 15 patients developed IRIS within the first two months of ART. The mortality rate in patients with and without IRIS was not different (9.5% versus 2.1%, P=0.119).The rate of TB IRIS is 13% in patients co-infected with HIV and TB. Extrapulmonary TB is a risk factor for IRIS. Closely monitored clinical care in the first few months of ART initiation and further interventional studies to minimize mortality of TB IRIS are needed.

Summary Objective To describe the clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of cryptococcosis in HIV-negative patients. Methods HIV-negative adult patients with positive culture for Cryptococcus neoformans who attended Ramathibodi Hospital between 1987 and 2003 were retrospectively reviewed. Results During the 17 year review period, 40 HIV-negative patients with cryptococcosis were identified. Of these, 37 patients had medical records available for study. The mean age was 49±18 (range 16–83) years and 73% were female. Twenty-four patients (65%) had associated underlying conditions. The most common associated conditions included immunosuppressive drug treatment (41%), presence of systemic lupus erythematosus (16%), malignancies (16%), and diabetes mellitus (14%). C. neoformans was mainly recovered from cerebrospinal fluid (32%), blood (28%), and sputum/bronchoalveolar lavage/lung tissue (28%). Twenty-three patients (62%) had disseminated cryptococcosis. Six of 14 patients with cryptococcal meningitis were asymptomatic. About half of the patients were treated with amphotericin B and subsequent fluconazole. Five patients (14%) were initially misdiagnosed and treated for tuberculosis or bacterial infection. The overall mortality rate was 27%. Conclusions Cryptococcosis is not rare in HIV-negative patients. The mortality rate is high. Early recognition of cryptococcosis and use of appropriate antifungal therapy in these patients may improve clinical outcomes.

We determined the prevalence of a positive tuberculin skin test (TST) and the incidence of TST conversion among new healthcare personnel (HCP) in a hospital in Thailand. During 2005-2008, TST was performed on 1438 HCP and the prevalence of positive TST was 66.3%. Age, male gender, and the presence of Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) scar were associated with odds of positive TST (all P < 0.05). The incidence of TST conversion was 4.8 per 100 HCP-years. Nine (0.6%) HCP were diagnosed with active tuberculosis. The annual surveillance programme is important for the early diagnosis and prevention of tuberculosis among HCP in Thailand.