Pattern and Epidemiological Characters of Meningitis Infections, Cairo Egypt. 2016–2019

Abstract

Background and study aim Egypt is an endemic area with meningitis infections, which is associated with high complications and death rates making it a medical emergency. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are around 1 million of cases per year worldwide with 135–200,000 fatal cases. The aim of the study is to describe the socio demographic, economic and clinical pattern of meningitis, to determine the outcomes of the disease in term of complications and fatality, to identify the causative organisms, and potential factors associated with either complications or mortality. Patients and Methods All patients presents with symptoms of meningitis according to the standardized case definition of CDC and confirmed with either cerebrospinal fluid analysis or brain imaging were recruited from Ain Shams University Hospitals by retrospective reviewing of medical records along the period from 2016 to the end of 2019. Socioedemographic, clinical and outcome data were also collected (extracted from the records) Results One thousand three hundred twenty-four (1324) patients were enrolled in the current study. males were more infected than females, children were the most vulnerable group. The main cause of septic meningitis was streptococcus meningitis, mainly among children after Haemophilic influenza due to the introducing the HIB vaccine in vaccination program November 2014. Bacterial meningitis was the leading cause of death among studied patient and deafness was the main neurological complication. Conclusion Early clinical suspicion of CNS infection and immediate management are crucial factors in reduction of the still high morbidity and mortality rates. The changes in the pattern of causative organisms must be considered when starting empiric antibiotic.