Bacterial Meningitis in Children at Enugu

Abstract

Summary: A retrospective study of bacterial meningitis in 107 children seen at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, over a 41-year period has revealed that although the clinical features were not different from those previously described, the pattern of causative organisms was, Strepto coccus pneumoniae was the most common organism, accounting for 28 (41% of the 69 positive bacterial growths. H influenzae and N meningitides were recovered in 11 patients each. E Coli was the causative organism in 4 of 8 positive cultures in neonates. Mortality and morbidity were high and were probably related to non-availability of appropriate drugs and also delay in seeking proper medical attention. From our experience and a review of the literature, we would recommend that initial antibiotic therapy for neonates with meningitis should consist of a combination of an amino glycoside and ampicillin and for children older than one month, a combination of penicillin and chloramphenicol.