Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus meningitis after needlestick injury: a case report
Abstract Background Needlestick accidents while handling of infectious material in research laboratories can lead to life-threatening infections in laboratory personnel. In laboratories working with the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), the virus can be transmitted to humans through needles...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-05-01
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| Series: | Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13756-019-0524-4 |
| _version_ | 1819152850793529344 |
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| author | Sarah Dräger Anna-Friederike Marx Fiona Pigny Pascal Cherpillod Philip Eisermann Parham Sendi Andreas F. Widmer |
| author_facet | Sarah Dräger Anna-Friederike Marx Fiona Pigny Pascal Cherpillod Philip Eisermann Parham Sendi Andreas F. Widmer |
| author_sort | Sarah Dräger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Needlestick accidents while handling of infectious material in research laboratories can lead to life-threatening infections in laboratory personnel. In laboratories working with the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), the virus can be transmitted to humans through needlestick injury and lead to serious acute illness up to meningitis. Case presentation We report of a case of LCMV meningitis in a laboratory worker who sustained a penetrating needlestick injury with a LCMV-contaminated hollow needle whilst disposing of a used syringe into the sharps waste bin. Four days after needlestick injury the laboratory worker developed a systemic disease: 11 days after exposure, she was diagnosed with meningitis with clinical signs and symptoms of meningismus, photophobia, nausea and vomiting, requiring hospitalisation. The PCR was positive for LCMV from the blood sample. 18 days after exposure, seroconversion confirmed the diagnosis of LCMV-induced meningitis with an increase in specific LCMV-IgM antibodies to 1:10′240 (day 42: 1:20′480). Ten weeks after exposure, a follow-up titre for IgM returned negative, whereas IgG titre increased to 1:20′480. Conclusions This is the first case report of a PCR-documented LCMV meningitis, coupled with seroconversion, following needlestick injury. It highlights the importance of infection prevention practices that comprise particularly well established safety precaution protocols in research laboratories handling this pathogenic virus, because exposure to even a small amount of LCMV can lead to a severe, life-threatening infection. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T14:55:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1e7cefc4fa4243a9a0cc8ec20bfe7ffa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2047-2994 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T14:55:51Z |
| publishDate | 2019-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control |
| spelling | doaj.art-1e7cefc4fa4243a9a0cc8ec20bfe7ffa2022-12-21T18:22:14ZengBMCAntimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control2047-29942019-05-01811410.1186/s13756-019-0524-4Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus meningitis after needlestick injury: a case reportSarah Dräger0Anna-Friederike Marx1Fiona Pigny2Pascal Cherpillod3Philip Eisermann4Parham Sendi5Andreas F. Widmer6Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital BaselDepartment of Biomedicine – Haus Petersplatz, Division of Experimental Virology, University of BaselLaboratory of Virology, Department of Genetic and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospitals of GenevaLaboratory of Virology, Department of Genetic and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospitals of GenevaWHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical MedicineInfectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital BaselInfectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital BaselAbstract Background Needlestick accidents while handling of infectious material in research laboratories can lead to life-threatening infections in laboratory personnel. In laboratories working with the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), the virus can be transmitted to humans through needlestick injury and lead to serious acute illness up to meningitis. Case presentation We report of a case of LCMV meningitis in a laboratory worker who sustained a penetrating needlestick injury with a LCMV-contaminated hollow needle whilst disposing of a used syringe into the sharps waste bin. Four days after needlestick injury the laboratory worker developed a systemic disease: 11 days after exposure, she was diagnosed with meningitis with clinical signs and symptoms of meningismus, photophobia, nausea and vomiting, requiring hospitalisation. The PCR was positive for LCMV from the blood sample. 18 days after exposure, seroconversion confirmed the diagnosis of LCMV-induced meningitis with an increase in specific LCMV-IgM antibodies to 1:10′240 (day 42: 1:20′480). Ten weeks after exposure, a follow-up titre for IgM returned negative, whereas IgG titre increased to 1:20′480. Conclusions This is the first case report of a PCR-documented LCMV meningitis, coupled with seroconversion, following needlestick injury. It highlights the importance of infection prevention practices that comprise particularly well established safety precaution protocols in research laboratories handling this pathogenic virus, because exposure to even a small amount of LCMV can lead to a severe, life-threatening infection.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13756-019-0524-4Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virusMeningitisNeedlestick injuryAccidental infectionRT-PCR |
| spellingShingle | Sarah Dräger Anna-Friederike Marx Fiona Pigny Pascal Cherpillod Philip Eisermann Parham Sendi Andreas F. Widmer Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus meningitis after needlestick injury: a case report Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus Meningitis Needlestick injury Accidental infection RT-PCR |
| title | Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus meningitis after needlestick injury: a case report |
| title_full | Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus meningitis after needlestick injury: a case report |
| title_fullStr | Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus meningitis after needlestick injury: a case report |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus meningitis after needlestick injury: a case report |
| title_short | Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus meningitis after needlestick injury: a case report |
| title_sort | lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus meningitis after needlestick injury a case report |
| topic | Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus Meningitis Needlestick injury Accidental infection RT-PCR |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13756-019-0524-4 |
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