title: A study of bacterial meningitis in Kumasi, Ghana.
abstract: A prospective study of acute bacterial meningitis in infants and children in Kumasi, Ghana identified 69 cases by culture or antigen detection. Of these, 50.7% (n = 35) were S. pneumoniae, 34.8% (n = 24) N. meningitidis and 14.5% (n = 10) H. influenzae. The mortality for each pathogen was 36.4%, 17.4% and 30%, respectively, showing no significant difference. In pneumococcal meningitis, the most significant clinical factor associated with an increased mortality rate or subsequent neurological sequelae was a lowered level of consciousness at admission (chi 2 = 8.66, d.f. = 1, p = 0.003). Antibiotic susceptibilities were determined in the 40 positive isolates. Six cases of N. meningitidis and two of S. pneumoniae were penicillin-resistant, and there was a single case of chloramphenicol-resistant S. pneumoniae.
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Mackie
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shears
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frimpong
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Mustafa-Kutana
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents