Unusual Gram-negative bacteria cause more severe bacterial meningitis than the three classical agents in children.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

To compare the characteristics, mortality and sequelae at hospital discharge of childhood bacterial meningitis (BM) caused by the three "classical" agents Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae or Streptococcus pneumoniae versus BM due to other aetiology in Finland, Latin America and Angola.

Methods

This observational study is a secondary analysis of data from five prospective treatment trials on non-neonatal BM in Finland, Latin America and Angola in 1984-2017.

Results

Of the 1568 cases, 1459 (93%) were caused by the classics, 80 (5%) by other Gram-negative and 29 (2%) by other Gram-positive bacteria. Nonclassical Gram-negative disease was encountered especially in Angola (p < 0.0001). Overall, children in the nonclassical group presented later for treatm

SUBMITTER: Peltola H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9321881 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature