Abstract
A longitudinal observational study of adult patients treated for community-acquired or hospital-acquired bacterial meningitis at a specialized unit. RESULTS: Community- and hospital-acquired meningitis was diagnosed in 278 and 18 cases, respectively.
The triad of fever, mental status change and meningism was present in 64 % of patients. Mental status was changed in 74 % of patients.
The CSF cytological and biochemical findings were both positive for purulent inflammation in 76 % of patients. The most frequent pathogens were S.pneumoniae (28 %) and N. meningitidis (25 %).
Fifty-nine patients died (20 %) and 54 patients (18 %) survived with sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that in the majority of patients, both clinical and laboratory signs were sufficiently clear to suggest bacterial meningitis It is necessary to increase the identification rate , mainly by means of rigorous implementation of CSF and blood culture as well as increased availability of molecular genetic techniques.