title: Neonatal purulent meningitis in southern Tunisia: Epidemiology, bacteriology, risk factors and prognosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the epidemiological, clinical and bacteriological aspects and outcome of purulent neonatal meningitis (PNM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of 55 cases of PNM hospitalized in the pediatric ward of Hedi Chaker Hospital from 1990 to 2012. Infants less than 29 days of age were included. The diagnosis was made on either the presence of bacteria in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or the combination of pleocytosis >30 cells/mm(3), protein level >1.3 g/l and glucose level <2.2 mmol/l or CSF/blood glucose ratio <0.4.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The male:female sex ratio was 1.75. One or more maternal risk factors for infection were found in 24 cases. The main symptoms were fever and poor feeding. Soluble antigen was positive in four cases and cultures had isolated the bacteria in 28 cases. The mortality rate was 40%. The sequelae rate in the survivors was 16.4%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study emphasizes the severity of PNM with high rates of mortality and neurological sequelae.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Pediatrics, Hedi Chaker Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kamoun
authors.forename: Mashuma Bibi
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Dowlut
authors.forename: Salma Ben
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Ameur
authors.forename: Lamia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sfaihi
authors.forename: Senda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mezghani
authors.forename: Imen
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chabchoub
authors.forename: Adnen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hammami
authors.forename: Hajer
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aloulou
authors.forename: Mongia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hachicha
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000209:etiology; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015996:Survival Rate; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial
keywords: bacteriology; epidemiology; evolution; newborns; purulent meningitis