Acute bacterial meningitis is caused by three major pathogens : Neisseria meningitidis (Nm), Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) and Haemophilus influenzae (Hi). In addition to these three pathogens, bacteria such as Listeria monocytogenes, Streptococcus agalactiae and many other bacteria, viruses and parasites are implicated in the occurrence of meningitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular profile of microorganisms not detected in negative CSF to N. meningitidis, S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae during routine meningitis surveillance in Burkina Faso. This work was carried out between 2021 and 2022. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were obtained from seven health regions in Burkina Faso. All suspected cases were included in the study if quantitative CSF cytology showed a number of leukocytes greater than or equal to 10/mm3
and were negative for Spn, Nm and Hi. The CSFs were analysed by rt PCR at the national meningitis reference laboratory (LNRM) at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Pédiatrique Charles de Gaulle (CHUP CDG). Of 421 CSF samples analysed, the unusual microorganisms identified as positive were Plasmodium falciparum (27%), Streptococcus suis (20.6%), Group A Streptococcus (15.9%), Enterococcus spp (8%), Staphylococcus aureus (8%), Escherichia coli (4.8%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4.8%). According to age groups, 54% of positive cases were diagnosed in children aged 1 to 5 years, with a predominance of P. falciparum (20.6%) and S. suis in patients aged over 20 years (12.7%). Molecular analysis of CSF samples from routine meningitis surveillance revealed a number of microorganisms that had not been investigated. P. falciparum is responsible for cerebral malaria. As for S. suis, it is involved in zoonoses such as meningitis, septicaemia and pneumonia in pigs.
Meningitis - unusual agents - rt-PCR - TAC - Burkina Faso