Non-invasive meningitis screening in neonates and infants: multicentre international study.

Journal: Pediatric research
Published Date: Jul 23, 2025

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Meningitis diagnosis requires a lumbar puncture (LP) to obtain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for a laboratory-based analysis. In high-income settings, LPs are part of the systematic approach to screen for meningitis, and most yield negative results. In low- and middle-income settings, LPs are seldom performed, and suspected cases are often treated empirically. The aim of this study was to validate a non-invasive transfontanellar white blood cell (WBC) counter in CSF to screen for meningitis.

Authors

  • Sara Ajanovic
    ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain. sara.ajanovic@isglobal.org.
  • Beatrice Jobst
    Kriba, Barcelona Science Park, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Javier Jiménez
    Kriba, Barcelona Science Park, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Rita Quesada
    General Surgery Department, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Fabião Santos
    Kriba, Barcelona Science Park, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Francesc Carandell
    Kriba, Barcelona Science Park, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Manuela Lopez-Azorín
    Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Quironsalud Madrid University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
  • Eva Valverde
    Neonatology Department, La Paz University Hospital - IdiPaz (Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research), Madrid, Spain.
  • Marta Ybarra
    Neonatology Department, La Paz University Hospital - IdiPaz (Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research), Madrid, Spain.
  • María Carmen Bravo
    Department of Neonatology, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain. mcarmen.bravo@salud.madrid.org.
  • Paula Petrone
    Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), C/ del Dr. Aiguader, 88, Barcelona 08003, Catalonia, Spain. Electronic address: paula.petrone@isglobal.org.
  • Hassan Sial
    Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain.
  • David Munoz
    Unity Health Toronto, 61 Queen St E, Toronto, ON, M5C 2T2, Canada.
  • Thais Agut
    Neonatal Brain Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: thais.agut@sjd.es.
  • Barbara Salas
    Emergency department, Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Nuria Carreras
    Neonatal Brain Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: nuria.carrerasb@sjd.es.
  • Ana Alarcón
    Neonatology department, Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Martín Iriondo
    Neonatology department, Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Carles Luaces
    Emergency department, Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Muhammad Sidat
    Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Faculdade de Medicina, Maputo, Mozambique.
  • Mastalina Zandamela
    Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Manhiça, Mozambique.
  • Paula Rodrigues
    Maputo Central Hospital, Maputo, Mozambique.
  • Dulce Graça
    Maputo Central Hospital, Maputo, Mozambique.
  • Sebastião Ngovene
    Maputo Central Hospital, Maputo, Mozambique.
  • Justina Bramugy
    Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Manhiça, Mozambique.
  • Anelsio Cossa
    Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Manhiça, Mozambique.
  • Campos Mucasse
    Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Manhiça, Mozambique.
  • William Chris Buck
    University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
  • Sara Arias
    ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Chaymae El Abbass
    Centre national de référence en néonatologie et nutrition - Hȏpital d'enfants-Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Ibn Sina, Rabat, Maroc.
  • Houssain Tligi
    Centre national de référence en néonatologie et nutrition - Hȏpital d'enfants-Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Ibn Sina, Rabat, Maroc.
  • Amina Barkat
    Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
  • Alberto Ibáñez
    Instituto de Tecnologías Físicas y de la Información (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.
  • Montserrat Parrilla
    Instituto de Tecnologías Físicas y de la Información (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.
  • Luis Elvira
    Instituto de Tecnologías Físicas y de la Información (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.
  • Cristina Calvo
    Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases Department, La Paz University Hospital, Fundación IdiPaz, Madrid, Spain.
  • Adelina Pellicer
    Department of Neonatology, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
  • Fernando Cabañas
    Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Quironsalud Madrid University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
  • Quique Bassat
    ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain.

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