SARS-CoV-2 investigation in cerebrospinal fluid from meningitis patients during the first pandemic wave

SARS-CoV-2 predominantly affects the respiratory system; however, during the first pandemic wave, there was a concern about its neuroinvasive potential due to its ability to replicate in neural cells and the neurological signs widely reported as impaired taste or smell. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from suspected cases of meningitis. During the first year of the pandemic, from January 2020 to February 2021, CSF samples were first submitted to multiplex qPCR to detect the three main bacteria causing meningitis (Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae), as the routine of the laboratory, but also, they were submitted to RT-qPCR to SARS-CoV-2 detection. Some samples (20 %) were positive for one bacterium; however, none were positive for the virus, suggesting that the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 in meninges is extremely low. This study with other data in the literature contributes to the epidemiologic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2.