Abstract
BackgroundAcute bacterial meningitis is still a life threatening disease.MethodsWe performed a retrospective observational study on the clinical characteristics of consecutively admitted patients with acute pneumococcal meningitis in a single tertiary care center in central Europe (from 2003 until 2015). Data were compared with a previously published historical group of 87 patients treated for pneumococcal meningitis at the same hospital (from 1984 until 2002).ResultsFifty-five consecutive patients with microbiologically proven pneumococcal meningitis were included. Most striking, mortality was down to 5.5 %, which was significantly lower than in the historical group where 24.1 % of the patients did not survive. Intracranial complications during the course of the disease were common and affected half of the patients. Unlike in the historic group, most of the intracranial complications (except ischemic stroke) were no longer associated with a low Glasgow Outcome Score at discharge.ConclusionThe drastic reduction of mortality proves there have been important advances in the treatment of pneumococcal meningitis. Nevertheless, the fact that only 44.2 % of survivors had a full recovery indicates that the search for new adjunctive treatment options must be ongoing.
Highlights
Acute bacterial meningitis is still a life threatening disease
Patients surviving pneumococcal meningitis often suffer from long-term neurological sequelae such as impaired neuropsychological abilities or focal neurological deficits ranging from cranial nerve palsy to hemiparesis [3,4,5]
In the case of suspected bacterial meningitis, diagnostic workup and empiric therapy are initiated according to national guidelines
Summary
Acute bacterial meningitis is still a life threatening disease. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most frequent and one of the most threatening pathogens causing acute bacterial meningitis. Patients surviving pneumococcal meningitis often suffer from long-term neurological sequelae such as impaired neuropsychological abilities or focal neurological deficits ranging from cranial nerve palsy to hemiparesis [3,4,5]. Those sequelae are consequences of intracranial complications occurring during the course of the disease, such as intracranial hemorrhage, brain edema, cerebritis, empyema, sinus thrombosis, cerebral ischemia and others. In a previous study from our center, 87 cases of patients suffering from pneumococcal meningitis from 1984 until 2002 were analyzed. We have since reviewed the patients’ records from the previous study to assess the current characteristics of medical care and outcome in patients with pneumococcal meningitis, beginning in 2003 and leading up to today
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
