[Acute meningitis in Córdoba, Colombia (2002-2004)].
OBJECTIVE
Establishing characteristic epidemiologic and microbiologic features of acute meningitis in the Córdoba department.


METHODS
A descriptive epidemiological study was carried out between June 2002 and June 2004 at the Hospital San Jerónimo in Montería. All suspicious cases of meningitis were included; laboratory tests included cytological smear, biochemistry, latex, Gram stain and culture.


RESULTS
57 (11.3%) and 85 (16.8%) of the 503 samples of cerebrum spinal fluid (CSF) were confirmed by culture as being probable cases. There were 6 cases of polymicrobial infection, making a total of 63 isolates: 17 non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli (26.9%), 16 Streptococcus pneumoniae (25.4%), 7 Enterobacteriaceae (11%), 5 Criptococcus neoformans (8%) 4 Neisseria meningitidis serotype B (6.3%), 3 S. viridans (4.8%), 2 Streptococcus group B (3.2%), 2 Haemophilus influenzae type B (3.2%), 2 Staphylococcus negative coagulase (3.2%), 2 S. aureus (3.2%), 2 Enterococcus (3.2%) and 1 Candida albicans (1.6%). The S. Pneumoniae serotypes found were: 5 (n=4), 23F (n=3), 14 (n=2), 18C (n=2), 18A (n=l1, 17F (n=l1, 1 (n=1).


CONCLUSIONS
The study led to determining epidemiological and microbiological aspects of acute meningitis in the Códoba department which had been unknown up to now. Streptococcus pneumoniae (25.4% was the main aetiological agent of meningitis; the epidemiologic aspects so established confirmed the need for strengthening and implementing measures for controlling meningitis in C6ódoba and its surveillance there.
Tique
Vaneza
V
Universidad de Córdoba, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico. vtiquesalleg@yahoo.com
Alvis
Nelson
N
Parodi
Renata
R
Bustos
Alvaro
A
Mattar
Salim
S
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000453:epidemiology; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016921:Meningitis, Fungal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000453:epidemiology; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000453:epidemiology; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012703:Serotyping; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000453:epidemiology; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification