Bacterial Meningitis in Infants Under 90 Days of Age: A Retrospective Single-Center Study
Background: Bacterial meningitis (BM) in infants is a serious condition that can lead to significant complications. Lumbar puncture (LP) is essential to provide diagnoses, however false negatives may result if LP is performed after the starting of antibiotic therapy. Methods: We conducted a retrospe...
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2024-11-01
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| author | Martina Buttera Sofia Mazzotti Tommaso Zini Lucia Corso Valeria Dallai Francesca Miselli Luca Bedetti Katia Rossi Eugenio Spaggiari Lorenzo Iughetti Licia Lugli Alberto Berardi |
| author_facet | Martina Buttera Sofia Mazzotti Tommaso Zini Lucia Corso Valeria Dallai Francesca Miselli Luca Bedetti Katia Rossi Eugenio Spaggiari Lorenzo Iughetti Licia Lugli Alberto Berardi |
| author_sort | Martina Buttera |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Bacterial meningitis (BM) in infants is a serious condition that can lead to significant complications. Lumbar puncture (LP) is essential to provide diagnoses, however false negatives may result if LP is performed after the starting of antibiotic therapy. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of infants of any gestational age with BM within their first 90 days of life and admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Modena Policlinico between 1 January 2011, and 31 December 2023. Results: A total of 44 episodes of meningitis were confirmed in 40 infants, diagnosed by positive cerebrospinal fluid cultures (<i>n</i> = 37), polymerase chain reaction testing (<i>n</i> = 4), or both methods (<i>n</i> = 3). Three out of forty infants (8%) experienced a relapse of meningitis. Most episodes (31/44, 70%) occurred in preterm infants. The incidence of early-onset meningitis was lower than that of late-onset (0.18 vs. 0.94 cases per 1000 births, respectively), with Gram-positive accounting for most cases (27/44, 61%). LP was performed prior to antibiotic administration in most episodes (30/44, 68%). Two preterm infants (5%) died from meningitis-related complications. Forty-two episodes occurred among thirty-eight surviving infants; brain lesions were detected through brain ultrasound or MRI in nine out of forty-two episodes (21%). Conclusions: Preterm infants have higher rates of BM, brain lesions or case fatalities. Early diagnosis and prompt antibiotic treatment are critical to improve outcomes. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
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| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj-art-6f41f6e930294910bbf6992ba9a607c52024-12-27T14:17:38ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672024-11-011112141110.3390/children11121411Bacterial Meningitis in Infants Under 90 Days of Age: A Retrospective Single-Center StudyMartina Buttera0Sofia Mazzotti1Tommaso Zini2Lucia Corso3Valeria Dallai4Francesca Miselli5Luca Bedetti6Katia Rossi7Eugenio Spaggiari8Lorenzo Iughetti9Licia Lugli10Alberto Berardi11School of Pediatrics Residency, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41224 Modena, ItalySchool of Pediatrics Residency, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41224 Modena, ItalyPediatric Unit, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41224 Modena, ItalySchool of Pediatrics Residency, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41224 Modena, ItalyDegree Program in Medicine and Surgery, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41224 Modena, ItalyNeonatal Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital of Modena, 41224 Modena, ItalyNeonatal Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital of Modena, 41224 Modena, ItalyNeonatal Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital of Modena, 41224 Modena, ItalyNeonatal Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital of Modena, 41224 Modena, ItalySchool of Pediatrics Residency, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41224 Modena, ItalyNeonatal Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital of Modena, 41224 Modena, ItalyNeonatal Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital of Modena, 41224 Modena, ItalyBackground: Bacterial meningitis (BM) in infants is a serious condition that can lead to significant complications. Lumbar puncture (LP) is essential to provide diagnoses, however false negatives may result if LP is performed after the starting of antibiotic therapy. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of infants of any gestational age with BM within their first 90 days of life and admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Modena Policlinico between 1 January 2011, and 31 December 2023. Results: A total of 44 episodes of meningitis were confirmed in 40 infants, diagnosed by positive cerebrospinal fluid cultures (<i>n</i> = 37), polymerase chain reaction testing (<i>n</i> = 4), or both methods (<i>n</i> = 3). Three out of forty infants (8%) experienced a relapse of meningitis. Most episodes (31/44, 70%) occurred in preterm infants. The incidence of early-onset meningitis was lower than that of late-onset (0.18 vs. 0.94 cases per 1000 births, respectively), with Gram-positive accounting for most cases (27/44, 61%). LP was performed prior to antibiotic administration in most episodes (30/44, 68%). Two preterm infants (5%) died from meningitis-related complications. Forty-two episodes occurred among thirty-eight surviving infants; brain lesions were detected through brain ultrasound or MRI in nine out of forty-two episodes (21%). Conclusions: Preterm infants have higher rates of BM, brain lesions or case fatalities. Early diagnosis and prompt antibiotic treatment are critical to improve outcomes.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/12/1411meningitisbacterial meningitisneonatal infection |
| spellingShingle | Martina Buttera Sofia Mazzotti Tommaso Zini Lucia Corso Valeria Dallai Francesca Miselli Luca Bedetti Katia Rossi Eugenio Spaggiari Lorenzo Iughetti Licia Lugli Alberto Berardi Bacterial Meningitis in Infants Under 90 Days of Age: A Retrospective Single-Center Study Children meningitis bacterial meningitis neonatal infection |
| title | Bacterial Meningitis in Infants Under 90 Days of Age: A Retrospective Single-Center Study |
| title_full | Bacterial Meningitis in Infants Under 90 Days of Age: A Retrospective Single-Center Study |
| title_fullStr | Bacterial Meningitis in Infants Under 90 Days of Age: A Retrospective Single-Center Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bacterial Meningitis in Infants Under 90 Days of Age: A Retrospective Single-Center Study |
| title_short | Bacterial Meningitis in Infants Under 90 Days of Age: A Retrospective Single-Center Study |
| title_sort | bacterial meningitis in infants under 90 days of age a retrospective single center study |
| topic | meningitis bacterial meningitis neonatal infection |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/12/1411 |
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