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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Bacterial meningitis in malawian infants <2 months of age: Etiology and susceptibility to World Health Organization first-line antibiotics
Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, Volume 33, No. 6, Year 2014
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Description
BACKGROUND: Neonatal meningitis is an important cause of morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa and requires urgent empiric treatment with parenteral administered antibiotics. Here we describe the etiology, antimicrobial susceptibility and suitability of the World Health Organization first-line recommended antibiotics (penicillin and gentamicin) for bacterial meningitis in young infants in Malawi. METHODS: We reviewed all cerebrospinal fluid samples received from infants ≤2 months of age with clinically suspected meningitis between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2008, at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi. RESULTS: We identified 259 culture-positive isolates from 259 infants ≤2 months of age. Sixty isolates were from neonates ≤7 days old, in whom the most common pathogens were Group B Streptococcus (27/60; 45.0%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (13/60; 21.7%) and nontyphoidal Salmonella enterica (7/60; 11.7%). One hundred and ninety one isolates were from young infants who were >7 days and ≤2 months of age. In this group, the most common isolates were S. pneumoniae (80/191; 41.9%), Group B Streptococcus (38/191; 19.9%) and nontyphoidal Salmonella enterica (34/191; 17.8%). More isolates were susceptible to ceftriaxone than to the combination of penicillin and gentamicin (218/220; 99.1% vs. 202/220; 91.8%, Fisher's exact test P = 0.006). In particular, Gram-negative isolates were significantly more susceptible to ceftriaxone than to gentamicin (72/74; 97.3% vs. 63/74; 85.1%, Fisher's exact test P = 0.020). Penicillin and gentamicin provided less coverage for Gram-negative than Gram-positive isolates (74/86; 86.0% vs. 155/163; 95.1%, χ = 6.24, P = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: In view of these results, the World Health Organization recommendations for empiric penicillin and gentamicin for suspected neonatal meningitis should be reevaluated. © 2013 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Authors & Co-Authors
Swann, Olivia V.
Malawi, Zomba
University of Malawi
United Kingdom, Edinburgh
Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution
Everett, Dean B.
Malawi, Zomba
University of Malawi
United Kingdom, Liverpool
University of Liverpool
Furyk, Jeremy S.
Australia, Townsville
Townsville University Hospital
Harrison, Ewen Munro
United Kingdom, Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh
Msukwa, Malango T.
Malawi, Zomba
University of Malawi
Heyderman, Robert Simon
Malawi, Zomba
University of Malawi
United Kingdom, Liverpool
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Molyneux, Elizabeth M.
Malawi, Zomba
University of Malawi
Statistics
Citations: 35
Authors: 7
Affiliations: 6
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1097/INF.0000000000000210
ISSN:
08913668
e-ISSN:
15320987
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Infectious Diseases
Maternal And Child Health
Study Locations
Malawi