Epstein-Barr Virus Central Nervous System Infections and Mortality Risk in Patients Presenting With Suspected Meningitis: Results From the Botswana National Meningitis Survey and the Harare Meningitis Aetiology Study - Takeaways - MDSpire

Epstein-Barr Virus Central Nervous System Infections and Mortality Risk in Patients Presenting With Suspected Meningitis: Results From the Botswana National Meningitis Survey and the Harare Meningitis Aetiology Study

  • By

  • Jayne Ellis

  • James Milburn

  • Kebatshabile Ngoni

  • Christopher G Williams

  • Charles Muthoga

  • Taddy Mwarumba

  • Ezekiel Gwakuba

  • George Manenji

  • Rachita Suresh

  • Tichoaya Machiya

  • Janet Thubuka

  • Cassie Northcott

  • James Penney

  • Matthew Kinsella

  • Imogen Mechie

  • Samuel Ensor

  • Tshepo Leeme

  • Leah Owen

  • Hannah Barton

  • Keatlaretse Siamisang

  • Mark W Tenforde

  • William Hurt

  • Ronan Doyle

  • Daniel Grint

  • Síle F Molloy

  • Thomas S Harrison

  • David M Goldfarb

  • Madisa Mine

  • Margaret Mokomane

  • Gift Ngwende

  • Lenon Gwaunza

  • Tiny Mazhani

  • Chiratidzo Ndhlovu

  • Joseph N Jarvis

  • October 23, 2025

  • 0 min

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  • 1

    Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) CNS infection was found in 26% of participants with suspected meningitis in the Botswana and Harare studies.

  • 2

    The study included 581 participants, predominantly male (54%) and HIV positive (76%), with a median age of 38 years.

  • 3

    EBV CNS infection was associated with older age, HIV positivity, and CSF pleocytosis, but not with increased in-hospital mortality after adjustment.

  • 4

    Cryptococcal meningitis was the most common confirmed cause of meningitis at 12%, followed by tuberculous meningitis at 6.4%.

  • 5

    The findings suggest that EBV CNS infection may act as a bystander virus reflecting heightened CSF inflammation rather than a direct cause of mortality.

Original Source(s)

Epstein-Barr Virus Central Nervous System Infections and Mortality Risk in Patients Presenting With Suspected Meningitis: Results From the Botswana National Meningitis Survey and the Harare Meningitis Aetiology Study

  • by Jayne Ellis, James Milburn, Kebatshabile Ngoni, Christopher G Williams, Charles Muthoga, Taddy Mwarumba, Ezekiel Gwakuba, George Manenji, Rachita Suresh, Tichoaya Machiya, Janet Thubuka, Cassie Northcott, James Penney, Matthew Kinsella, Imogen Mechie, Samuel Ensor, Tshepo Leeme, Leah Owen, Hannah Barton, Keatlaretse Siamisang, Mark W Tenforde, William Hurt, Ronan Doyle, Daniel Grint, Síle F Molloy, Thomas S Harrison, David M Goldfarb, Madisa Mine, Margaret Mokomane, Gift Ngwende, Lenon Gwaunza, Tiny Mazhani, Chiratidzo Ndhlovu, Joseph N Jarvis

  • October 23, 2025

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