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Diagnosing viral encephalitis and emerging concepts
Heather Y F Yong1, Daniel M Pastula2,3, Ronak K Kapadia1
1Division of Neurology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Cummings School of Medicine, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Current Opinion in Neurology
|April 20, 2023
Summary
Rapid advancements in diagnostic tools like multiplex PCR and next-generation sequencing are improving the identification of viral encephalitis causes. These innovations offer quicker pathogen detection and aid in managing complex neurological infections.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Infectious Diseases
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Viral encephalitis diagnosis is evolving rapidly.
- Understanding emerging and re-emerging infectious agents is crucial for neuroinfectious disease practice.
Approach:
- This review focuses on contemporary clinical approaches to diagnosing viral encephalitis.
- It discusses recent advancements in diagnostic technologies and relevant emerging infections.
Key Points:
- Multiplex PCR panels enable rapid pathogen detection, potentially reducing empiric antimicrobial use.
- Metagenomic next-generation sequencing shows promise for diagnosing rare and challenging viral encephalitis cases.
- Emerging infections such as arboviruses, monkeypox virus (mpox), and measles are relevant to current neuroinfectious disease practice.
Conclusions:
- While etiological diagnosis of viral encephalitis remains challenging, new tools are emerging.
- Environmental, host, and societal factors are reshaping the landscape of neurological infections.
- Clinicians can anticipate enhanced diagnostic capabilities for viral encephalitis in the near future.
