Outcome of patients with acute bacterial meningitis in a teaching hospital in Ethiopia: A prospective study

Background The mortality and neurologic sequelae associated with acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) remain high despite advances in medical care. The main aim of this study was to evaluate short-term outcome in patients treated as bacterial meningitis at a teaching hospital in Ethiopia to identify factors that could be focused on to improve outcome in this setting. Methods A hospital based longitudinal study was conducted at Jimma University Hospital in southwest Ethiopia from March 1, 2013 to December 31, 2015. Participants of this study were patients of age 18 years and older who were treated as confirmed or possible cases of ABM. Patients were followed throughout their hospital stay for change in their clinical course and predefined end points. A multivariable analysis was done to identify factors associated with unfavorable outcomes. Result 90 patients admitted with diagnosis of acute bacterial meningitis were included in the study; cerebrospinal fluid was analysed for 85 (94.4%) of them. Causative bacteria were isolated in 26 (28.9%) patients only; most of these isolates (84.6%) were either Streptococcus pneumoniae or Neisseria meningitidis. Patients managed as cases of ABM at the hospital suffered from a high rate of unfavorable outcome (36.7%) and an overall mortality rate of 22.2%. Impaired level of consciousness (AOR = 0.766, 95% CI = 0.589–0.995), dexamethasone therapy (AOR = 4.676, 95% CI = 1.12–19.50) and fever persisting after two days of admission (AOR = 24.226, 95% CI = 5.24–111.96) were found to be independently associated with unfavorable outcome. Conclusion Outcome in patients treated for ABM at the hospital was found to be poor. Impaired mentation, treatment with adjunctive dexamethasone and persistent fever were found to be associated with poor outcome. Thus, development of clinical guidelines for treatment of ABM that suit the local context is essential to improve patient management and outcome.