CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS WITH BACTERIAL MENINGITIS IN THE INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE SALUD DEL NIÑO - BREÑA, PERU 2010 - 2020

Abstract

Introduction: The diagnosis of bacterial meningitis (BM) in pediatric patients remains a challenge, which underlines the need to reevaluate clinical epidemiological and laboratory criteria, to formulate new strategies. Objectives: To describe the clinical- epidemiological characteristics of hospitalized patients as confirmed, probable, and suspected cases of BM in an Institute from 2010- 2020. Methods: The study was retrospective, descriptive in hospitalized pediatric patients. The population was 363, the sample 277 whose admission diagnosis included meningitis. 269 were reviewed. Results: Of 269, 188 were BM: 13% confirmed, 15% probable and 72% suspicious. The median age was 2 years, 62.7% were male, 5% fatality. 47.8% registered a complete immunization schedule against Hib and 48.9% against pneumococcus. The frequent clinical characteristics were fever 88.8%, vomiting 49.5%, drowsiness 34.6% and seizures 36.2%. 79.3% received antibiotic treatment prior to admission to the Institute and 75.5% used antibiotics prior to lumbar puncture. Pneumococcus was isolated in 67% and the antibiogram was obtained in 54% of the cultures, all of which were sensitive to ceftriaxone and 15% resistant to vancomycin. Conclusions: The use of empirical antibiotic prior to lumbar puncture was significant for low isolation of germs in CSF.