Abstract

DAVENPORT, María Carolina et al. Bacterial meningitis: risk factors for development of acute complications. Arch. argent. pediatr. [online]. 2007, vol.105, n.5, pp.405-410. ISSN 0325-0075.

Introduction. Bacterial meningitis is a severe disease. Though it is early diagnosed and proper antimicrobial therapy is indicated, neurological complications and long term morbility still occur. Objective. To update acute neurological complications incidence in bacterial meningitis. To describe the relationship between laboratory tests, patient age, neurological complications and death. Population, material and methods. Patients aged one month to fifteen years old with diagnosis of meningitis admitted at Dr. Pedro de Elizalde Hospital, between January 2003 and November 2005 were analyzed. The variables applied were patients' age, cerebroespinal fluid (CSF) laboratory values obtained by lumbar puncture at hospital admission: CSF white blood cells, CSF glucose, CSF proteins, agent identification by CSF latex agglutination test, CSF culture and peripheral blood culture. Multivariate analyses was conducted using logistic regression modele. Chi squared test was used for univariate analyses. Numeric variables were analyzed by Wilcoxon test. Results. 81 patients with bacterial meningitis were included, 18.51% presented neurological complications, 3.7% died. High CSF proteins (p= 0.011; β=5,68; CI 95%= 1,5-21,52),), younger age (p= 0.022; β=0,61; CI 95%= 0,40-0,93) and positive blood culture (p= 0.003; β=13,22: CI 95%= 2,35-74) were associated to worse evolution. Streptococcus pneumoniae had greater percentage of neurologic complications (p= 0.028; β=15). Conclusion. Positive peripheral blood culture, high CSF proteins and younger age present a significative statistical association with the development of acute complications of bacterial meningitis.

Keywords : Bacterial meningitis; Mortality; Acute complications.

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