title: Epidemiology and antibiotic resistance of bacterial meningitis in Dapaong, northern Togo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the seasonality of the bacterial meningitis and the antibiotic resistance of incriminated bacteria over the last three years in the northern Togo.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2007 to January 2010, 533 cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) samples were collected from patients suspected of meningitis in the Regional Hospital of Dapaong (northern Togo). After microscopic examination, samples were cultured for bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 533 patients (306 male and 227 female) aged from 1 day to 55 years [average age (13.00±2.07) years]. Bacterial isolation and identification were attempted for 254/533 (47.65%) samples. The bacterial species identified were: Neisseria meningitidis A (N. meningitidis A) (58.27%), Neisseria meningitidis W135 (N. meningitidis W135) (7.09%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) (26.77%), Haemophilus influenza B (H. influenza B) (6.30%) and Enterobacteriaceae (1.57%). The results indicated that bacterial meningitis occur from November to May with a peak in February for H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae and March for Neisseriaceae. The distribution of positive CSF with regards to the age showed that subjects between 6 and 12 years followed by subjects of 0 to 5 years were most affected with respective frequencies of 67.82% and 56.52% (P<0.001). Susceptibility tests revealed that bacteria have developed resistance to several antibiotics including aminosides (resistance rate >20% for both bacterial strains), macrolides (resistance rate > 30% for H. influenzae) quinolones (resistance rate >15% for H. influenzae and N. meningitidis W135). Over three years, the prevalence of S. pneumoniae significantly increased from 8.48% to 73.33% (P<0.001), while the changes in the prevalence of H. influenzae B were not statistically significant: 4.24%, vs. 8.89%, (P = 0.233).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that data in African countries differ depending on geographical location in relation to the African meningitis belt. This underlines the importance of epidemiological surveillance of bacterial meningitis.
authors.affiliation: Ecole Supérieure des Techniques Biologiques et Alimentaires, Université de Lomé, Togo. simplicekarou@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Simplice D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Karou
authors.forename: Abago
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balaka
authors.forename: Mitiname
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bamoké
authors.forename: Daméhan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tchelougou
authors.forename: Maléki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Assih
authors.forename: Kokou
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Anani
authors.forename: Kodjo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Agbonoko
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Simpore
authors.forename: Comlan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Souza
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014037:Togo / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents