Epidemiology of Neonatal Meningitis, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, 2014-2018

 Meningitis is one of the serious and life threatening infections in neonates. It is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates. Due to the overlap between clinical manifestations of sepsis and meningitis, early diagnosis with initial clinical signs, symptoms, and laboratory tests is crucial. Considering the importance of the matter, the frequency of meningitis, clinical manifestations, risk factors, and laboratories tests and outcomes in neonates with meningitis were assessed at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, betweem 2013-2018. The main aim of the present study was to appropriately plan promotion of health in neonates using the conclusions made.

In the current study, the existing data related to neonates with meningitis were assessed at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, between 2013-2018. The frequency of meningitis, sepsis, symptoms and signs, risk factors, and the final outcomes were assessed. From among 3612 neonates with sepsis during the five-year period, the incidence of meningitis was 2/2%. The most common clinical symptoms and signs were poor feeding (43%) and fever (42%). Also, the preterm neonates with meningitis had apnea more than term neonates (pv:0.004). Early meningitis was more common among the preterm neonates compared with term neonates (pv:0.026) and positive B/C and positive CSF/C were common among preterm neonates as compared with term neonates (pv:0.005) (pv:0.040). In addition, the percentage of positive CSF/C in neonates with meningitis was 12/3% and the percentage of neonates expired was 3/7%. Furthermore, the neurologic secel was found to be 4/9%.

In the current study, the incidence of meningitis in sepsis was less than those in other published articles in other countries. The symptoms and sings of the infection in neonates are nonspecific; therefore, the essential survey and laboratories test and lumbar puncture (Lp) should be conducted in all neonates suspected to sepsis in order to determine the focus of the infection.