Expert consensus on the application of pathogenic diagnostic techniques for viral encephalitis and meningitis

Abstract

Viral encephalitis (meningitis) is a common infectious disease of the central nervous system (CNS), which is an inflammatory disease caused by viruses invading the brain parenchyma and meninges. It is a global disease and a serious threat to human health as an acute and severe medical condition. CNS infections can be caused by a variety of viruses, including herpes viruses, enteroviruses, and arboviruses, etc. Identification and diagnosis of the pathogens remains a major clinical challenge. In order to standardize the application of nucleic acid and antibody tests of patients with viral encephalitis (meningitis), experts in the field of virology, infectious diseases, clinical medicine and laboratory testing in China reached the consensus after repeated discussions. The current consensus mainly consists of the domestic and foreign pathogen types, the detection techniques, the detection strategies and schemes for Chinese viral encephalitis, thereby providing a reference for the clinical diagnosis and disease prevention and control of viral encephalitis (meningitis).