Ten-year review of hospital-acquired neonatal meningitis in a tertiary-level NICU: the important role of acinetobacter species
摘要
Meningitis during the neonatal period is a potentially devastating condition with high morbidity and mortality. Pathogens cause meningitis varying with gestational age at birth, age at presentation, and geographic location.
MethodsThis 10-year retrospective cross-sectional study, conducted from 2014 to 2023, involved thoroughly evaluating patient files who developed hospital-acquired neonatal meningitis during their hospitalization, with the aim of identifying the causative pathogens and predisposing factors to mortality and hydrocephalus. in a large, referral neonatal intensive care unit at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahvaz, Iran.
ResultsThe files of 33 infants with meningitis were examined. The number of premature and low birth weight babies was 30(90.9%) and 27(81.8%), respectively. The studied neonates’ mean gestational age and birth weight were 32.6 ± 3.3 weeks and 1812 ± 739 g, respectively. Meningitis with late-onset occurred in 28(84.8%) infants and Gram-negative bacteria in 24(72.7%) infants. Out of a total of 33 neonates with meningitis, 13(39.3%) of whom died. The pathogen most frequently isolated from cerebrospinal fluid cultures was Acinetobacter species, found in 16(48.4%) patients. Occurrences of seizures in the first three days of meningitis, meningitis with gram-negative bacteria, and leukocytosis of more than 15,000 at the onset of meningitis increased the probability of death and hydrocephalus in infants.
ConclusionConsidering that most of the neonates in this study were premature, had low birth weight, and had nosocomial late-onset meningitis with Gram-negative bacteria, it is necessary to prevent them from contracting meningitis with strict and multifaceted care while hospitalized.