Abstract
During the period September 1985 - August 1987, 653 consultant paediatricians in the UK and Eire cooperated in a prospective study by providing clinical information on cases of meningitis in children under one year of age. Additional information was collected from microbiologists, the CDSC and OPCS. 2498 cases of meningitis were reported; M/F ratio 1.3/1. 484 occurred during the neonatal period of which 360 were bacteriologically proven - 1/3250 live births. Group B streptococci (GBS) (25%) and E. coli (17%) were the commonest isolates. H. influenzae, Str. pneumoniae and N. meningitidis accounted for 13% of cases and L. monocytogenes for 5%. In 48% of neonates treatment was based on chloramphenicol, in 24% on gentamicin and in 14% on cefotaxime. The overall mortality among the newborn was 20% (ranging from 30% with enteric G -ve rods, 5% with listeria to 0% with viruses). Culture negative cases of meningitis had a 3% mortality. Among babies older than 28 days Str pneumoniae (12%), H. influenzae (36%) and N. meningitidis (34%) accounted for 82% of cases and E. coli or GBS for 6%. Mortality among babies over one month of age was 5%. There was a geographical variation in incidence. This is the largest comprehensive study in the British Isles. Information on the long term morbiditty associated with infantile meningitis is now being collected.
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De Louvois, J., Blackbourn, J., Hurley, R. et al. 13. MENINGITIS DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE - A TWO YEAR STUDY. Pediatr Res 24, 655 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198811000-00035
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198811000-00035