title: Neonatal meningitis: risk factors, causes, and neurologic complications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Neonates are at greater risk for sepsis and meningitis than other ages and in spite of rapid diagnoses of pathogens and treatments, they still contribute to complications and mortality. This study determines risk factors, causes, and neurologic complications of neonatal meningitis in hospitalized neonates.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this descriptive, cross sectional study, we evaluated 415 neonates with sepsis and meningitis admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at our center between 2008 and 2012. The data that was recorded was age, sex, birth weight, prenatal risk factors, clinical features, blood and cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and brain sonographic findings and outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty patients had meningitis. Eleven cases (55%) were male. The mean age was 8. 41 days and mean birth weight was 2891.5±766 grams. Poor feeding, seizures, and tachypnea were detected in 12 (60%), 11 (55%), and 6 (30%) patients, respectively. Prenatal risk factors were prolonged rupture of membranes, maternal vaginitis, asymptomatic bacteriuria, prematurity, low birth weights, and asphyxia. Four patients had positive cerebrospinal fluid cultures with klebsiella pneumoniae 2 (50%), Enterococcus spp. 1 (25%), and Group B streptococcus 1 (25%) cases, respectively. Two cases had positive blood cultures with klebsiella pneumoniae. Neurologic complications were brain edema, subdural effusion, and brain abscesses with hydrocephaly. One neonate (5%) died.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study provides some information about risk factors, pathogens, and neurologic complications for neonatal meningitis. Prenatal assessments help to diagnose and reduce risk factors of this hazardous disease.
authors: Division of Neonatology, Ali-Asghar Children's Hospital, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Nasrin
authors: N
authors: Khalessi
authors: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Ali-Asghar Children's Hospital, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Ladan
authors: L
authors: Afsharkhas
keywords: Complication; Neonatal meningitis; Risk factor
references: Pediatr Clin North Am. 2004 Aug;51(4):939-59, viii-ix
references: 15275982
references: Pediatrics. 2006 Apr;117(4):1094-100
references: 16585303
references: Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2009 Jan;28(1 Suppl):S10-8
references: 19106757
references: J Infect Dev Ctries. 2013 Feb 15;7(2):73-81
references: 23416652
references: Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2009 Mar;94(2):F144-8
references: 18805822
references: Pediatr Int. 2010 Jun;52(3):463-6
references: 20202151
references: East Afr Med J. 2003 Sep;80(9):456-62
references: 14640166
references: J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 2000 Jun;33(2):100-4
references: 10917879
references: Arch Dis Child. 1993 Jul;69(1 Spec No):14-8
references: 8346945
references: Pediatrics. 2000 Sep;106(3):477-82
references: 10969090
references: Pediatr Radiol. 2008 Feb;38(2):129-37
references: 17611750
references: Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1999 Oct;18(10 Suppl):S56-61
references: 10530575