The causative organisms of bacterial meningitis in Korean children in 1996-2005.
Bacterial meningitis remains a serious cause of morbidity and mortality in childhood, despite the availability of effective vaccines against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) or Streptococcus pneumoniae. The purpose of this study was to analyze data on bacterial meningitis cases in Korea from 1996 through 2005. The information of all hospitalized bacteria-proven meningitis cases was obtained from 17 university hospitals nationwide. A total of 402 cases were identified. Of these, 125 (29.9%) cases were neonates. Streptococcus agalactiae was the most common bacteria responsible for 99 (24.6%) of all cases regardless of age, followed by S. pneumoniae for 91 (22.6%) and H. influenzae for 67 (16.7%) patients. The common etiology beyond the neonatal period was S. pneumoniae for 91 (33.0%) followed by H. influenzae for 63 (22.8%) patients. The overall case fatality rate was 9.4%, which was similar with that in 1986-1995. In conclusion, S. agalactiae, S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae were important etiologic agents of bacterial meningitis in children in the last 10 yrs. It is required to establish the preventive strategy of the three bacteria. The nationwide epidemiologic study should be continued to evaluate immunization strategy and efficacy.
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea.
Hye Kyung
HK
Cho
Hyunju
H
Lee
Jin Han
JH
Kang
Kwang Nam
KN
Kim
Dong Soo
DS
Kim
Yun Kyung
YK
Kim
Jung Soo
JS
Kim
Jong-Hyun
JH
Kim
Chang Hwi
CH
Kim
Hwang Min
HM
Kim
Su-Eun
SE
Park
Sung Hee
SH
Oh
Eun Hee
EH
Chung
Sung Ho
SH
Cha
Young Youn
YY
Choi
Jae Kyun
JK
Hur
Young Jin
YJ
Hong
Hoan Jong
HJ
Lee
Kyung-Hyo
KH
Kim
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D019741:Haemophilus influenzae type b / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification