[Bacteriology of community acquired meningitis in Sfax, Tunisia (1993-2001)].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to analyze the distribution of bacteria responsible for community-acquired meningitis and the pattern of resistance of common species.


METHODS
All bacteriologically confirmed cases of community-acquired meningitis were recorded between 1993 and 2001.


RESULTS
Two hundred twenty-four cases of bacterial meningitis were recorded. The most frequent species were Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae followed by Neisseria meningitidis with respectively 37.1%, 32.1%, and 10.7% of cases. The yearly distribution of these bacteria did not show any epidemic peak. Enterobacteria and group B Streptococcus were the most frequently identified pathogens in neonatal meningitis. H. influenzae was the predominant microorganism in children between one month and five years of age, (66.4%) followed by S. pneumoniae (23.5%). S. pneumoniae was the predominant bacteria responsible fore more than half of the cases over five years of age. 28.8% of H. influenzae strains produced beta-lactamase. 27.2% of S. pneumoniae strains were less susceptible to penicillin. Resistance rates for amoxicillin and cefotaxime were respectively 10.6% and 7.5%. Only one strain of N. meningitidis (4.2%) presented with a decreased susceptibility to penicillin.


CONCLUSIONS
In our study, H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae were the main microorganisms responsible for community-acquired meningitis. High resistance rates were found for these bacteria: 28.8% of H. influenzae to ampicillin and 27.2% of S. pneumoniae to penicillin.
Maalej
S Mezghani
SM
Laboratoire de microbiologie, CHU Habib-Bourguiba de Sfax, rue, El-Ferdaous 3029 Sfax, Tunisie.
Kassis
M
M
Rhimi
F Mahjoubi
FM
Damak
J
J
Hammami
A
A
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents