Aetiology of acute pyogenic meningitis in children in a tertiary care hospital, Kerala

INTRODUCTION: Acute bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency, and the diagnosis is by culture of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In this study, we looked at the changing aetiology of acute pyogenic meningitis in the context of the availability of several vaccines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The aim of this study was to find out the aetiology and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of acute pyogenic meningitis in children between one month and 12 years in one year in a tertiary care centre. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology, Medical College Hospital, Trivandrum, in collaboration with Department of Paediatrics, SATH, Trivandrum and Christian Medical College, Vellore. CSF samples were processed by doing Gram-staining and culture in appropriate media. Latex agglutination test (LAT) and PCR were done in all cases for the primary pathogens. Blood culture and sensitivity were also done for all patients. RESULTS: Streptococcus pneumoniae (62.5%) was the most common aetiological agent for acute bacterial meningitis followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae subspp pneumoniae , Group B haemolytic Streptococci and Elizabethkingia meningosepticum . LAT could pick up one culture negative case of pneumococcal meningitis. Blood culture was positive in 37.5% of CSF culture positive cases.