Korean J Pediatr.  2008 Oct;51(10):1077-1084. 10.3345/kjp.2008.51.10.1077.

Bacterial meningitis in children experienced at a university hospital, 1993-2006

• Cho SY
• Kim TY
• Lee H
• Kim KH
• Yoo ES
• Kim HS
• Park EA
• Ryu KH
• Seo JW
• Sohn S
• Lee SJ

• KMID: 2280315
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3345/kjp.2008.51.10.1077

Abstract

PURPOSE: Despite the seriousness of bacterial meningitis in children, there is little information on the incidence, causative organisms, mortality rate and age distribution. We studied the frequency by age group and causal pathogens, and clinical characteristics in children with bacterial meningitis in the private sector in Korea.
METHODS
The medical records containing the data on bacterial meningitis patients under 18 years of age confirmed by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings were retrospectively analyzed from September, 1993 to August, 2006 at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital.
RESULTS
Eighty-one cases of bacterial meningitis were observed. Overall the most common organism was Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus, GBS) (30 cases, 37.0%) followed by Haemophilus influenzae (22 cases, 27.2%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (12 cases, 14.8%), Escherichia coli (3 cases, 3.7%), Neisseria meningitidis (1 case, 1.2%) and others (13 cases, 16.0%). In neonates and young infants under 2 months, the most common organism was GBS. In children between 3 months, and 5 years, the most common organism was H. influenzae. S. pneumoniae was the most common organism in children over 5 years of age. Thirty-one patients (38.3%) had complications. Of all ages, the mortality rate of bacterial meningitis markedly decreased compared with the previously reported rate.
CONCLUSION
In neonates, GBS meningitis was most common. The frequency of H. influenzae meningitis decreased after the introduction of H. influenzae type b vaccination. A strategy for the prevention of GBS meningitis in neonates should be established. The influence of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on S. pneumoniae meningitis should be studied

Keyword

Bacterial meningitis; Streptococcus agalactiae; Haemophilus influenzae; Streptococcus pneumoniae

MeSH Terms

Age Distribution
Child
Escherichia coli
Female
Haemophilus influenzae
Humans
Incidence
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Influenza, Human
Korea
Medical Records
Meningitis
Meningitis, Bacterial
Neisseria meningitidis
Pneumonia
Private Sector
Retrospective Studies
Streptococcus
Streptococcus agalactiae
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Vaccination