Epidemiology and Prognosis of Encephalitis in Intensive Care

Acute encephalitis (AE) is a serious condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Patients require ICU admission in 60 % of cases, mainly because of neurological symptoms (coma, seizures) or acute respiratory failure.

The etiological profile of AE has changed considerably in recent years, with the emergence of new pathogens and the description of new immune-mediated causes (acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), autoimmune limbic encephalitis) that require urgent specific therapies. Furthermore, despite extensive investigations, the proportion of cases of unknown cause remains high.

In-ICU care of patients with AE is a difficult task, given the diversity of etiologies and clinical presentations. Furthermore, additional studies such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be challenging to obtain in this population. Finally, there are no specific recommendations on the management and prognostic assessment of patients admitted to the ICU with AE.

Present available data on the prognosis of patients with AE include both adult and pediatric cases, and focuses only on AE with identified causes. Prognosis of encephalitis in adult patients requiring ICU admission has been previously described only in retrospective single centre cohorts. To date, no prospective multicenter study on AE has been conducted in the specific population of adult critically ill patients. Furthermore, data on the diagnostic and prognostic contributions of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electroencephalography studies in these patients are lacking The development of guidelines for standardized care in critically ill AE patients is needed, and will include management of early life support, prompt and exhaustive etiologic investigations, early administration of specific treatments and assessment of neurological prognosis. This study, which will focus on prognostic evaluation of severe AE in adults, appears crucial to support the development of such guidelines.

Patients admitted to ICU for a suspicion of AE (acute encephalopathy and CSF pleocytosis > 5 cells / microliter) will be eligible for inclusion.

Patients admitted to ICU for a suspicion of AE (acute encephalopathy and CSF pleocytosis > 5 cells / microliter) will be eligible for inclusion. Eligible patients will be included if they fulfil the IDSA 2013 diagnostic criteria for ""probable"" or ""confirmed"" encephalitis (see inclusion criteria). In patients without an obvious etiological diagnosis, an algorithm will be suggested to investigators to guide etiological investigations, according to the most recent recommendations (IDSA 2013). Aetiology of encephalitis will be described according to a priori-defined categories: 1) viral causes, 2) immune-mediated-causes, 3) bacterial or fungal meningitis with secondary encephalitic features, 4) undetermined causes. For each included patient, CSF and plasma samples will be stored at -80°C. A biobank will be created for subsequent analyses (etiological diagnosis, prognostic biomarkers). Outcomes will be assessed at 90 days and 365 days by contacting the patient or his relatives. The primary outcome is the score on the modified Rankin scale, which will be assessed 90 days after inclusion. Independent predictors of functional outcomes will be determined by multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Inclusion criteria

• Altered mental status, delirium, or personality changes for a duration > or = 24 h
• At least 2 of the following: 1) fever (>38°C) within 72 hours before or following hospital admission; 2) new-onset seizures; 3) new-onset focal signs; 4) CSF pleocytosis > 5 cell / microl; 5) brain parenchyma abnormalities on neuroimaging compatible with the diagnosis of encephalitis; 6) EEG abnormalities compatible with the diagnosis of encephalitis.
• Altered mental status with a GCS < or =13 without sedation, or GCS < or =13 before sedation administration in sedated patients
• CSF analysis performed
• Brain imaging performed (CT/MRI)
• Age >18

Exclusion criteria

• Time between the first hospitalization for neurologic symptoms in relation with encephalitis and ICU admission > 21 days
• Purulent bacterial meningitis diagnosed by direct examination or CSF analysis
• Isolated brain abscess.
• Febrile encephalopathy associated with another diagnosis
• Predicted time in ICU < or = 24 hours
• Opposition of close-of-kin, if present at the inclusion, for patient participation in research.