Neonatal bacterial meningitis in southern Taiwan.
To determine the epidemiologic trends, prognostic factors, and therapeutic results of neonatal bacterial meningitis, 60 neonatal patients with culture-proven neonatal bacterial meningitis were enrolled in this study. To compare changes over time, the appearance of disease among the patients was divided into two equal periods (1986-1993 and 1994-2001). Group B streptococci were the most common causative pathogens, accounting for approximately 32% of the episodes. Escherichia coli, the next most common pathogen, was more frequently observed in the second period. Seventy-seven percent of gram-negative bacilli isolates were resistant to ampicillin. Moreover, oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus and ampicillin-resistant group B streptococci strains occurred in the second periods as late-onset neonatal bacterial meningitis. The overall mortality rates for the first and second study period were 17% and 8%, respectively. However, if individuals with poor outcomes were taken into account, 38% of patients were considered treatment failures. Significant prognostic factors included the presence of seizures, thrombocytopenia, and high cerebrospinal fluid protein and low cerebrospinal fluid glucose concentration. Although the mortality rate was significantly reduced in the second period, there has been increasing incidence of the emergence of resistant strains presenting a therapeutic challenge. The presentation in neonatal bacterial meningitis might be nonspecific, and blood culture results were negative in 45% of the episodes. Early diagnosis, choice of appropriate antibiotics, and correction of metabolic derangement are essential to improving outcomes.
Chang
Chin-Jung
CJ
Department of Pediatric Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Chang
Wen-Neng
WN
Huang
Li-Tung
LT
Huang
Song-Chei
SC
Chang
Ying-Chao
YC
Hung
Pi-Lien
PL
Tasi
Chin-Yen
CY
Lu
Cheng-Hsien
CH
Cheng
Ben-Chung
BC
Lee
Ping-Yu
PY
Chang
Hsueh-Wen
HW
D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome