Intra-hospital lethality among infants with pyogenic meningitis

Predictor variables of intra-hospital lethality among infants with pyogenic meningitis due to Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae were identified using data from a follow-up study of infants with bacterial meningitis. The infants who were admitted to Couto Maia Hospital from March 1, 1997 to December 31, 1997 presenting with symptoms of bacterial meningitis were identified and included in a database. An analysis of the clinical and laboratory information was performed using EPI info 6.01b and SPSS 6.1 statistical programs. The total mortality rate was 17.1%, and the majority of deaths occurred within 48 hours of hospitalization. Factors associated most frequently with poor outcome included absence of respiratory infection, high cerebrospinal fluid protein, and compromised cranial nerves. Early identification of major risk groups is important to adopt measures to improve prognosis.