[Bacterial meningitis in infants 1 to 8 weeks old].
Bacterial meningitis in the newborn and infant remains a serious problem, with a mortality rate of 24% and a morbidity rate ranging from 30 to 50%. This retrospective study conducted between January 1982 and December 1997, aims to characterize the epidemiology of bacterial meningitis in infants less than 60 days of age. Thirty-five infants between 6 and 60 days of age, hospitalized for bacterial meningitis in the pediatric units of Edouard-Herriot Hospital in Lyon, France, were included. The clinical presentation was not specific for most cases, hyperthermia being the most common symptom (97%). Neurological symptoms such as bulging fontanelle or nuchal rigidity were present in 30% and 8% of the cases, respectively. The four predominant meningeal pathogens were: group B streptococcus (36%), Escherichia coli (28%), meningogoccus (8.6%) and Staphylococcus aureus (8.6%). This study emphasizes the importance of prompt diagnosis, including CSF evaluation, and antimicrobial therapy in infants less than 2 months of age presenting an isolated fever.
Zanelli
S
S
Service d'urgence et de réanimation pédiatrique, hôpital Edouard-Herriot, Lyon, France.
Gillet
Y
Y
Stamm
D
D
Lina
G
G
Floret
D
D
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents