Microbiological profile of meningitis in a public school hospital

SUMMARY The infectious meningitis is an important problem of public health and it is responsible for increased rates of morbidity and mortality in children and adolescents. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of the main pathogens responsible for meningitis isolated in hospitalized patients in the University Hospital of Santa Maria (HUSM - Santa Maria - RS). To accomplish that, the results of 437 samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CFS) of patients interned with suspicion of meningitis in the HUSM from 10/01/2003 to 01/31/2005 were analyzed. This retrospective study was performed utilizing the files containing the results of the samples examined through the routine techniques in the Laboratory of Bacteriology of the HUSM. The etiologic agent was identified in 64 (14.64%) of the 437 samples. Staphylococcus epidermidis (n= 13; 19.7%), Cryptococcus neoformans (n= 10; 15.50%) and Staphylococcus aureus (n= 6; 9.09%) were the most prevalent agents. All the cases whose etiology was Cryptococcus neoformans comprised HIV positive patients. It is recommended to keep the etiological profile of meningitis continuously monitored: each institution must be based on its own data to guide the empirical antimicrobial therapy and the identification of infection versus contamination.