Meningitis bacteriana en recién nacidos. Experiencia en el Instituto Nacional de Perinatología de 1990 a 1999

Introduction. Objective: etiology, clinical manifestations and laboratory values found in newborn patients with central nervous infection system (CNIS) are described. Material and methods. Files of the microbiology laboratory, searching for the records of newborn patients with a diagnosis or suspicion of CNIS, during a period from 1990 to 1999 were studied. Clinical records of 152 patients (all with isolates in cerebrospinal fluid) were also studied. Results. A total of 4 052 samples were assayed looking for bacterial agents; from these, 241 (7.6%) developed growth of some microorganism. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was the most frequently microorganisms isolated in 43.8%. The main clinical manifestations found in these patients were: jaundice (37.5%), breathing insufficiency (35.5%) and fever (30.2%). Laboratory data did not show differences in its values when stratified by gestational age. Conclusions. S. epidermidis is by far the microorganism most frequently isolated in neonatal care units of the INPer. Ictericia and distress respiratory were clinical manifestations found most frequently.