Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 4, 2026

Sequencing of Bacterial Microflora in Peripheral Blood: our Experience with HIV-infected Patients
13:50

Sequencing of Bacterial Microflora in Peripheral Blood: our Experience with HIV-infected Patients

Published on: June 11, 2011

The effect of HIV infection on paediatric bacterial meningitis in Blantyre, Malawi

E M Molyneux1, M Tembo, K Kayira

  • 1Paediatric Department College of Medicine, Box 360, Blantyre, Malawi. emolyneux@malawi.net

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|December 13, 2003
PubMed

Insights

HIV-positive children with bacterial meningitis face higher mortality and relapse rates. Prevention of primary and recurrent infections is crucial for this vulnerable group.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Bacterial meningitis remains a significant cause of childhood morbidity and mortality.
  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection can alter the presentation and outcomes of infectious diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the clinical presentation, disease progression, and outcomes of acute bacterial meningitis in children with and without HIV infection.

Main Methods:

  • A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving 598 children (aged 2 months to 13 years) with acute bacterial meningitis.
  • 459 children were tested for HIV serostatus, with dexamethasone as adjuvant therapy evaluated.

Main Results:

  • HIV-positive children (34% of cohort) showed similar presentation but higher rates of shock and infection focus.
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae was more common in HIV-positive children (52% vs. 32%), with a 67% relapse rate in this group.
  • Mortality was significantly higher in HIV-positive children (65% vs. 36%), though survivor numbers were similar; hearing loss was less common in HIV-positive survivors.

Conclusions:

  • HIV-positive children with bacterial meningitis experience severe outcomes, including high mortality and recurrent infections.
  • Urgent strategies are needed to prevent both initial and subsequent episodes of bacterial meningitis in HIV-infected children.
Abstract

More Related Videos

An In vitro Co-infection Model to Study Plasmodium falciparum-HIV-1 Interactions in Human Primary Monocyte-derived Immune Cells07:39

An In vitro Co-infection Model to Study Plasmodium falciparum-HIV-1 Interactions in Human Primary Monocyte-derived Immune Cells

Published on: August 15, 2012

An In Vitro Model for Measuring Immune Responses to Malaria in the Context of HIV Co-infection08:14

An In Vitro Model for Measuring Immune Responses to Malaria in the Context of HIV Co-infection

Published on: October 6, 2015

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Meningitis01:24

Bacterial Meningitis

Bacterial meningitis is a severe infectious disease involving inflammation of the meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It occurs when pathogenic bacteria cross the blood–brain barrier and enter the cerebrospinal fluid. Common causative organisms include Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type b, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli K1. The exact route of entry varies by pathogen and host condition.Routes of Entry...
Viral Meningitis01:18

Viral Meningitis

Viral meningitis is the most common form of meningitis and is often referred to as aseptic meningitis to indicate the absence of bacterial involvement. It is generally milder than bacterial meningitis, with symptoms including fever, headache, stiff neck, drowsiness, nausea, photophobia, and vomiting. Rarely, more severe manifestations or death may occur. Common causative agents include enteroviruses, particularly coxsackie A and B viruses and echoviruses, all members of the Enterovirus genus...
Cryptococcal Meningitis01:27

Cryptococcal Meningitis

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
Malaria01:29

Malaria

Malaria pathogenesis in humans reflects a delicate interplay between parasite biology and host response. Clinical illness reflects a host’s immune response to the parasite’s asexual replication cycle, which is often asymptomatic in individuals with partial immunity. From the parasite's perspective, transmission between mosquito and human with minimal host pathology is evolutionarily advantageous. Among the six Plasmodium species infecting humans, P. falciparum and P. vivax dominate in global...
Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction01:22

Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction

Bacterial meningitis is a severe, life-threatening inflammation of the meninges, particularly the pia mater and arachnoid mater, affecting the subarachnoid space, ventricles, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If untreated, it can lead to significant neurological complications or death.Causative AgentsCommon pathogens vary with age and immune status. In adults, major organisms include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae. Streptococcus agalactiae (group B...
Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology01:26

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology

Bacterial meningitis typically begins when pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonize the nasopharynx and invade the bloodstream. This process is facilitated by bacterial virulence factors, such as polysaccharide capsules, which resist phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing. Less commonly, bacteria reach the central nervous system via contiguous spread from infections like otitis media or sinusitis, through congenital or acquired dural defects, or...