Abstract
One hundred ninety-two of 194 L.A. County hospitals were enrolled in the Meningitis Surveillance Program in 1975. Sixty-nine cases of neonatal meningitis were identified from bacteriology laboratory reports and medical records at each hospital. Criteria for case inclusion were age ≤56 days and a positive CSF culture or a CSF cell count >500 WBC with >50% PMNs, not related to CSF hemorrhage. Etiologic organisms included: Group B Strep, 28; Listeria, 9; Gram negative enterics, 9; strep Not B, 6; Others, 6; and Purulent unknown, 11. The cumulative percent of cases by age was as follows: 0-7d, 36%; 0-14d, 57%; 0-28d, 80%; and 0-42d, 91%. Mean ages for the major pathogens were: Group B Strep, 18d; Listeria, 7d; and Enterics, 9d. The total incidence of neonatal meningitis was 63.7/100,000 live births. The incidence was significantly higher in Blacks (139.3) and Spanish surnamed (69.1) than in Caucasians (32.7). The incidence was highest in Blacks for all etiologic types except Enterics, in which it was highest in Spanish-surnamed. Prematurity was a significant predisposing factor, present in 25% of Blacks and Spanish-surnamed and 42% of Caucasians. Serious complications occurred in 16(23%) patients and included convulsions (13%), psychomotor retardation (10%), hydrocephalus (4%), and paresis (3%). Complications were significantly more frequent with Group B Strep (35%) than with other etiologic organisms (12%). Forty-three patients (62%) made a full recovery; ten (14%) died.
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Baraff, L., Wehrle, P., Wilkins, J. et al. EPIDEMIOLOGY OF NEONATAL MENINGITIS-LOS ANGELES COUNTY 1975. Pediatr Res 11, 434 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00387
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00387