title: Changing pattern of acute bacterial meningitis in Enugu, Nigeria.
abstract: A retrospective analysis of the records of 76 children with culture proven acute bacterial meningitis at UNTH, Enugu over a four year period (1 April 1989 through 30 March 1993), has revealed a striking change in the pattern of the disease especially in the causative organisms, age distribution, morbidity and mortality. Gram negative organisms accounted for 52.63% of all isolates, with coliforms being the most predominant (34.21% of total isolates). However, in a previous study by others in the same locality, gram positive organisms were more predominant, accounting for 81.2% of all isolates. In both series, Streptococcus pneumoniae was the single most predominant organism although there was a decrease in the percentage of the organism in the present study. Morbidity and mortality rates were 23.68% and 28.95% respectively, compared with 19.6% and 20.6% in the previous study. The University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu is the only teaching hospital in the State.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu.
authors.forename: U C
authors.initials: UC
authors.lastname: Ozumba
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001424:Bacterial Infections; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012189:Retrospective Studies