Barzilai University Medical Center

95 Research Day 2020 Barzilai University Medical Center 69 PEDIATRIC ENTEROVIRAL CNS INFECTIONS AT THE BARZILAI UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER, ASHKELON Hailay Gebremeskel*, Yasser Nabari**, Hila Mor***, Diana Roif-Kaminski***, Shlomo L. Maayan, Zohar Landau** *Infectious Diseases Division, **Pediatric Division, ***Microbiology Division, Barzilai University Medical Center, Ashkelon. Faculty of Health Studies, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel Background Enteroviral infections are common causes of Viral CNS infections among children. Clinical findings are usually nonspecific. Usual CSF findings include mononuclear pleocytosis with normal glucose level and normal or modestly increased CSF protein. Diagnosis is confirmed by RT-PCR. Methods A retrospective record review of 72 children & infants with a confirmed CNS was performed. Enteroviral infection was diagnosed by CSF RT-PCR and analyzed between June 2017 to December 2019. Results Enteroviral infections were seen throughout the year with increment during summer months. The 72 CSF specimens where Enterovirus diagnosis was established over 2.5 years, constituted 57.6 % of all CSF specimens sent for PCR viral diagnosis from the Pediatrics. Enteroviral CNS infection was the only CNS viral diagnosis in the pediatric age group as no Herpes Virus nor West Nile Virus were detected during the study period. The age range of the 72 cases analyzed was 4 days-12 years with most (70%) being aged <1 year. Neonates (1-30 days of age) constituted 25 % of cases. The most common clinical presentations were Fever = 67/72 (93%), followed by positive meningeal signs 33/72 (45.83%). CSF profile showed increased WBCs in all 72 cases with predominance of mononuclear cells in 76% of the cases. In 6.9% cases CSF glucose was <40 mg/dl. Increased CSF protein (>45mg/dl) was found in 63.89% of cases. Elevated CRP was seen in 31.94% of cases. Conclusion Enterovirus CNS Infection is the commonest (100% of positive samples) diagnosed CNS viral infection in the Pediatric age group at BMC. It is commonly diagnosed as part of sepsis syndrome in Infants. Enterovial CNS infection can occur at any time of the year but is more abundant in the Summer months. Summary Enteroviral CNS infections play an important etiological role in infants who present with a need for sepsis workup.