Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles associated with bacterial meningitis among children: a referral hospital-based study in Iran.

Abstract

Bacterial meningitis continues to be associated with high morbidity and mortality rate worldwide, especially in the pediatric age group. This study was performed to identify the microbial etiologies of meningitis among 31 children, who were admitted in the Emergency Ward of a referral pediatric hospital in Iran. Culture identification showed that Streptococcus pneumoniae (12 subjects), Haemophilus influenzae (11 subjects) were the most common bacteria, followed by Escherichia coli (7 cases) and Neisseria meningitidis (only one case). Antibiotic susceptibility tests revealed that vancomycin had the best effect on S. pneumoniae in comparison with other antibiotics, whereas H. influenzae and E. coli were more susceptible to ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, and ceftizoxime than other antibiotics. In conclusion, despite the advances in antibiotic therapy and vaccine development, bacterial meningitis still is a health problem. S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, and N. meningitidis are the main sources of bacterial meningitis, but other organisms such as E. coli should also be suspected, when a case is admitted to a referral pediatric hospital.

• Authors: Mohammad Taghi Haghi-Ashtiani, Setareh Mamishi, Nasrin Shayanfar, Masoud Mohammadpour, Bahareh Yaghmaei, Mina Abedini, Narges Node Farahani, Nima Rezaei
• Journal: Acta microbiologica et immunologica Hungarica (Acta Microbiol Immunol Hung) Vol. 58 Issue 4 Pg. 273-8 (Dec 2011) ISSN: 1217-8950 [Print] Hungary
• PMID: 22207285 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Bacteria (drug effects)
• Child
• Haemophilus influenzae (drug effects)
• Humans
• Iran
• Meningitis, Bacterial (microbiology)
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests
• Neisseria meningitidis (drug effects)
• Referral and Consultation
• Streptococcus pneumoniae (drug effects)