Bacterial meningitis in Hong Kong: 10-years' experience.
OBJECTIVE
We studied the etiology, clinical features and outcome of patients with bacterial meningitis from an urban Chinese city over a 10-years period.


METHODS
We reviewed the files of all persons aged 15-years old or above diagnosed with community-acquired bacterial meningitis from a regional hospital. The clinical findings, relevant laboratory and imaging results as well as outcome were recorded in cases with microbiological evidence of meningitis. Neurosurgical and pediatric patients were excluded.


RESULTS
Sixty-five patients between the ages of 15 and 86 years of age (mean 52 years) were identified of whom 18 (28%) died. The four most common causes were Mycobacteria tuberculosis (46%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (11%), Streptococcus suis (9%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (8%). Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae were rare pathogens. The annual incidence of community-acquired bacterial meningitis was 1.27/100,000 adults. Delay in treatment was associated with a poorer prognosis (p<0.001, OR=38.84, CI=7.33-205.80).


CONCLUSIONS
The causative organisms found in this region of China differ from that reported from Europe and the US; tuberculous meningitis is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis.
Hui
A C F
AC
Department of Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Ngan Shing Street, New Terriotories, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR. cfhui@cuhk.edu.hk
Ng
K C
KC
Tong
P Y
PY
Mok
V
V
Chow
K M
KM
Wu
A
A
Wong
L K S
LK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate