A prospective study of risk factors for neurological complications in childhood bacterial meningitis

Neonatal bacterial meningitis: hearing screening and audiological monitoring outcomes

OBJECTIVE

This study reviewed the outcomes of universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) and ongoing hearing monitoring in children following recovery from neonatal bacterial meningitis to determine (a) whether screening may be a suitable alternative to diagnostic audiology for detecting permanent childhood hearing loss (PCHL) and (b) whether infants who pass UNHS should be monitored throughout childhood.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of a UNHS database.

STUDY SAMPLE

Data were extracted from the state-wide UNHS database for all children born in Queensland Australia between 1 September 2004 and 30 June 2020 with the risk factor of bacterial meningitis (in isolation or in combination with other risk factors) identified at the time of the UNHS. This cohort included 231 children.

RESULTS

Results showed that all post-meningitic infants diagnosed with PCHL had a refer result on the UNHS or were medically excluded from screening. Additionally, no cases of PCHL were identified through the targeted surveillance program following a pass result on UNHS.

CONCLUSIONS

UNHS may be sufficient to detect PCHL in post-meningitic neonates and routine audiological monitoring may not be required for children who pass the screen.

Risk Factors Associated With Prolonged Antibiotic Use in Pediatric Bacterial Meningitis

Objectives: To determine the risk factors associated with a prolonged antibiotic course for community-acquired bacterial meningitis (BM) in children.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included children aged 1 month to 18 years with community-acquired BM due to a confirmed causative pathogen from 2011 to 2021. Patients were divided into an antibiotic prolongation group and a nonprolongation group according to whether the antibiotic course exceeded 2 weeks of the recommended course for the causative pathogen. Associations of important clinical characteristics and laboratory and other parameters with antibiotic prolongation were assessed using univariate and multivariable regression logistic analyses.

Results: In total, 107 patients were included in this study. Augmented renal clearance (ARC) (OR, 19.802; 95% CI, 7.178–54.628; p < 0.001) was associated with a prolonged antibiotic course; however, septic shock, causative pathogen, preadmission antibiotic use, peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count, initial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) WBC count, CSF glucose, CSF protein, and surgical intervention were not associated with the prolonged antibiotic course. Patients with ARC had more total fever days (median time: 14 vs. 7.5 days), longer hospitalization (median time: 39 vs. 24 days), higher rates of complications (72.34% vs. 50.00%) and antibiotic adjustments (78.723% vs. 56.667%) than patients with normal renal function.

Conclusion: ARC is an independent risk factor for prolonged antibiotic use in children with community-acquired BM. ARC may be associated with longer fever and hospitalization durations, higher rates of complications and antibiotic adjustments.

Risk Factors for Severe Outcomes in Bacterial Meningitis

Objectives: This study aimed to define risk factors associated with suppurative complications, short-term sequelae, and death in pediatric patients with bacterial meningitis. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on children with bacterial meningitis, aged 0 months to 18 years, who were admitted to the Hospital Infantil João Paulo II, reference in infectious diseases, from 2005 to 2018. Results: In 178 cases, meningococcal meningitis was the most prevalent disease form (51%), followed by pneumococcal meningitis (31%) and Haemophilus influenzae type B meningitis (10%). The main clinical findings at admission were fever (93.1%), vomiting (67.9%), drowsiness (47.8%), headache (36.5%), irritability (28.3%), and seizures (26.4%). Suppurative complications were recorded in 19% of the patients. The prevalence of neurological sequelae during hospital discharge was 12.4%. Hearing (41%; n = 9) and cognitive (9%) impairments were prominent among the diagnosed sequelae. Incidences of epileptic crises, vestibular disorders, or hydrocephalus were noted in one case each (4.5%), and 12.4% of the patients died. Conclusions: Streptococcus pneumoniae and H. influenzae type B were associated with the diagnosis of sequelae during hospital discharge, seizures were considered a risk factor for suppurative complications, and gastrointestinal symptoms or signs of clinical severity were associated with death.

Outcome of acute bacterial meningitis among children in Kandahar, Afghanistan: A prospective observational cohort study

BACKGROUND

Acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children but there are no published data on the treatment outcomes of ABM in Afghanistan.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective observational cohort study over one year, February 2020 to January 2021 in a tertiary care hospital in Kandahar, Afghanistan. AMB was diagnosed clinically and on lumbar puncture findings. Binary logistic regression assessed factors for death.

RESULTS

A total of 393 ABM children of mean age 4.8 years were recruited. Most were males [231 (58.8%)], living in rural areas [267 (67.9%)] and in households of >10 inhabitants [294 (74.8%)]. Only 96 (24.4%) had received against both Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) or pneumococcal (PCV) vaccines. Children were treated with combination of ceftriaxone and ampicillin and 169/321 (52.6%) received dexamethasone. Of the 321 children with a known outcome, 69 (21.5%) died. Death was significantly associated with: not receiving dexamethasone [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 4.9 (95% CI 2.6-9.5, p <0.001)], coma on admission [AOR 4.6 (I 2.3-9.5, p <0.001)], no PCV [AOR 2.8 (1.2-6.6, p = 0.019)] or Hib vaccine [AOR 2.8 (1.2-6.6, p = 0.019)], and being male [AOR 2.7 (1.4-5.5, p = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

ABM causes significant morbidity and mortality in Afghan children that may be improved by greater use of PCV and Hib vaccines. Adjunct dexamethasone should be evaluated formally in our setting.

Nationwide Population-Based Epidemiological Study for Outcomes of Adjunctive Steroid Therapy in Pediatric Patients with Bacterial Meningitis in Taiwan

Although corticosteroids can serve as an effective anti-inflammatory adjuvant therapy, the role of adjunctive steroid therapy in pediatric bacterial meningitis in Taiwan remains under-investigated. Cases of acute bacterial meningitis, aged between 1 month and 20 years, were divided into a steroid group (empirical antibiotics with adjunctive steroid therapy) and a non-steroid group (empirical antibiotics only). Data were identified from the annual hospitalization discharge claims of the National Health Insurance Research Database using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes. Of the 8083 episodes enrolled in this study, 26% (2122/8083) and 74% (5961/8083) were divided into the steroid and non-steroid groups, respectively. The fatality rates were 7.9% in the steroid group and 1.7% in the non-steroid group during hospitalization (p < 0.0001). In the steroid and non-steroid groups, the median length of hospital stay was 13 and 6 days, respectively (p < 0.0001). Medical costs (median (interquartile range)) of hospitalization were 77,941 (26,647–237,540) and 26,653 (14,287–53,421) New Taiwan dollars in the steroid and non-steroid groups, respectively (p < 0.0001). The steroid group had a more fulminant course at baseline, a higher fatality rate, length of hospital stay, and medical cost of hospitalization. Therefore, the beneficial effects of the adjunctive use of corticosteroids in pediatric bacterial meningitis are inconclusive, and additional prospective multicenter investigations are required to clarify this issue.

Bacterial Meningitis in Children: Neurological Complications, Associated Risk Factors, and Prevention

Bacterial meningitis is a devastating infection, with a case fatality rate of up to 30% and 50% of survivors developing neurological complications. These include short-term complications such as focal neurological deficit and subdural effusion, and long-term complications such as hearing loss, seizures, cognitive impairment and hydrocephalus. Complications develop due to bacterial toxin release and the host immune response, which lead to neuronal damage. Factors associated with increased risk of developing neurological complications include young age, delayed presentation and Streptococcus pneumoniae as an etiologic agent. Vaccination is the primary method of preventing bacterial meningitis and therefore its complications. There are three vaccine preventable causes: Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), S. pneumoniae, and Neisseria meningitidis. Starting antibiotics without delay is also critical to reduce the risk of neurological complications. Additionally, early adjuvant corticosteroid use in Hib meningitis reduces the risk of hearing loss and severe neurological complications.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcome Analysis of 94 Children With Brain Abscess in Beijing: A Single-center Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND

There are limit studies about pediatric brain abscess in China. The aim of this study was to analyze clinical characteristics and outcomes of pediatric brain abscess in recent years in China.

METHODS

The clinical information of children with brain abscess hospitalized in Beijing Children's Hospital between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2016 were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

Ninety-four children were enrolled in this study. A Streptococcus milleri group (13.8%) was identified as the most common causative organisms, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (6.4%). The overall mortality was 21.6%, with 50.0% of deaths happening in the first week after diagnosis. Long-term outcomes of 74 patients were assessed with Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended Pediatric Reversion: 50 patients with a score of 1-2 (favorable outcome) and 24 patients with a score of 3-8 (unfavorable outcome). Patients with multiple abscesses (P = 0.029) and intraventricular rupture of brain abscess/hydrocephalus (P = 0.024) had higher risk of unfavorable outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Brain abscess is a serious disease with high mortality in children; more aggressive treatments should be considered in the first week of diagnosis because of high risk of death, and for patients with multiple brain abscesses and intraventricular rupture of brain abscess/hydrocephalus because of their higher risk of unfavorable.

Treatment Outcomes and Associated Factors among Children Hospitalized with Acute Bacterial Meningitis in Eastern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Bacterial meningitis is a common central nervous system infection that is associated with high morbidity and mortality in pediatrics. In Ethiopia, little is known about treatment outcomes of acute bacterial meningitis and associated factors among hospitalized children.

Objective

To assess treatment outcomes of acute bacterial meningitis and associated factors among hospitalized children with acute bacterial meningitis in the Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital pediatric ward.

Methods

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the pediatric ward of Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital, eastern Ethiopia. Relevant data were collected using a structured data-collection tool from patients' medical charts. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were done to identify predictors of treatment outcomes. OR with 95% CI and P≤0.05 was used for statistical significance.

Results

A total of 200 children with acute bacterial meningitis were included in the study, of which 92% were aged ≥2 months and the majority (128, 64%) had delayed (≥72 hours) presentation to the hospital. At admission, 181 (90.5%) were febrile, 92 (46%) had depressed level of consciousness, and 40 (20%) had had seizures. Most (126, 63%) had documented medical comorbidities. The antibiotic combination of ampicillin and gentamycin had been frequently administered in children aged <2 months while ceftriaxone was commonly prescribed for those aged >2 months. Of the total study participants, 154 (77%) showed successful treatment outcomes, while 46 (23%) experienced poor treatment outcomes (died or "self"-discharged). Level of consciousness (AOR 3.25, 95% CI 1.21-8.75), duration of illness before admission (AOR 3.74, 95% CI 1.76-7.98), and antibiotic-regimen change (AOR 4.7, 95% CI 2.4-10) were predictors of treatment outcomes.

Conclusion

The majority of study participants experienced good treatment outcomes. Unconsciousness, antibiotic-regimen change, and duration of illness before hospitalization were significantly associated with treatment outcomes. Early treatment, linkage of primary-health facilities to tertiary health-care centers, and availability of diagnostics should be promoted to improve patient outcomes.

Risk factors associated with the outcomes of pediatric bacterial meningitis: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature and answer the following central question: "What are the risk factors associated with worse clinical outcomes of pediatric bacterial meningitis patients?"

METHODS

The articles were obtained through literary search using electronic bibliographic databases: Web of Science, Scopus, MEDLINE, and LILACS; they were selected using the international guideline outlined by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis Protocols.

RESULTS

The literature search identified 1,244 articles. After methodological screening, 17 studies were eligible for this systematic review. A total of 9,581 patients aged between 0 days and 18 years were evaluated in the included studies, and several plausible and important prognostic factors are proposed for prediction of poor outcomes after bacterial meningitis in childhood. Late diagnosis reduces the chances for a better evolution and reinforces the importance of a high diagnostic suspicion of meningitis, especially in febrile pictures with nonspecific symptomatology. S. pneumoniae as a causative pathogen was demonstrated to be related to clinical severity.

CONCLUSIONS

Early prediction of an adverse outcome may help determine which children require more intensive or longer follow-up and may provide the physician with rationale for parental counseling about their child's prognosis in an early phase of the disease.

Clinical Features of and Risk Factors for Hydrocephalus in Childhood Bacterial Meningitis

OBJECTIVE

To explore the clinical characteristics of and analyze the risk factors for hydrocephalus in children with bacterial meningitis.

METHODS

Retrospective study of a sample of children with bacterial meningitis seen on the pediatric service of Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2016.

RESULTS

Overall, 9.36% (25/267) of patients presented with hydrocephalus. Among patients with hydrocephalus, the age at onset of bacterial meningitis was usually <6 months, 15 patients had confirmed bacterial etiology, and 1 patient died. The most significant results of multivariate analysis for hydrocephalus were a rural living situation, altered level of consciousness, previous treatment with antibiotics, initial cerebrospinal fluid protein >2 g/L, C-reactive protein >100 mg/L, and dexamethasone use.

CONCLUSIONS

A severe clinical manifestation and significant laboratory index at admission are the most important predictors of hydrocephalus in children with bacterial meningitis.

Cerebrospinal fluid lactate: a differential biomarker for bacterial and viral meningitis in children

OBJECTIVE

To assess the performance of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lactate as a biomarker to differentiate bacterial meningitis from viral meningitis in children, and to define an optimal CSF lactate concentration that can be called significant for the differentiation.

METHODS

Children with clinical findings compatible with meningitis were studied. CSF lactate and other conventional CSF parameters were recorded.

RESULTS

At a cut-off value of 3mmol/L, CSF lactate had a sensitivity of 0.90, specificity of 1.0, positive predictive value of 1.0, and negative predictive value of 0.963, with an accuracy of 0.972. The positive and negative likelihood ratios were 23.6 and 0.1, respectively. When comparing between bacterial and viral meningitis, the area under the curve for CSF lactate was 0.979.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors concluded that CSF lactate has high sensitivity and specificity in differentiating bacterial from viral meningitis. While at a cut-off value of 3mmol/L, CSF lactate has high diagnostic accuracy for bacterial meningitis, mean levels in viral meningitis remain essentially below 2mmol/L.

Elevated levels of cerebrospinal fluid S100B are associated with brain injury and unfavorable outcomes in children with central nervous system infections

PURPOSE

This work aimed to assess whether elevated levels of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) S100B are associated with brain injury and unfavorable outcomes at discharge in children with central nervous system (CNS) infections.

METHODS

CSF S100B and associated clinical parameters were retrospectively analyzed in 83 children with CNS infections and 88 children without neurological pathology served as controls. Children with CNS infections were divided into an infectious encephalitis group and an infectious meningitis group based on whether cerebral parenchyma was involved, and CSF S100B levels in different age subgroups between the two groups were compared. The predictive value of CSF S100B in children with infectious encephalitis was evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analysis, and the discriminative power was investigated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

RESULTS

CSF S100B levels in the infectious encephalitis group were significantly higher than the infectious meningitis and the control group at each age range. CSF S100B ≥ 0.96 μg/L had 62.9% sensitivity and 76.2% specificity for diagnosing cerebral parenchyma injury in children with CNS infections. Increased CSF S100B levels were proven to be an independent predictor of unfavorable outcomes in children with infectious encephalitis and the optimal cut-off value (1.77 μg/L of CSF S100B) for predicting unfavorable outcomes in children with infectious encephalitis showed 61.1% sensitivity and 96.2% specificity.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has demonstrated that elevated levels of CSF S100B are associated with brain injury and could be used as an independent predictor of clinically unfavorable outcomes at discharge in children with CNS infections.