Acute Bacterial meningitis in Children in Benghazi, Libya.

Original article

English

Bandaru Narasmga Rao 1, Ibrahim Mehdi Kashbur 1, Nun Mohamad Shembesh 2, Suliman Mohamad Elbarghathy 2

1-Dept. of Microbiology & Parasitology Faculty of Medicine, Al-Arab Medical University, Benghazi, Libya. 2-Dept. of Paediatrics, Al-Fateh Children Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Arab Medical University, Benghazi, Libya.

Sebha Med J. 1999; Vol. 2(1):10-17

Abstract

During a thirteen month period, ending in May 1995. Seventy seven children, with a presumptive diagnosis of acute bacterial meningitis were investigated in “Al-Fateh Children’s Hospital”, Benghazi, Libya. The incidence of acute bacterial meningitis among them was found to be 0.76% with a case fatality rate of 12.98%. Male children below one year of age were found to be more affected (64.94%) than females (Male to female ratio of 1.2:1). Gram stain (85.7%) and latex agglutination tests (85.4%) detected more cases than culture (66.2%). A total of 48 isolates were identified by culture and their antibiotic sensitivity was determined. Haemophilus influenzae (33.7%) was the predominant organism identified, followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae (25.9%), Klebsiella species (6.4%) and Neisseria meningitidis (2.6%). Many of the bacterial isolates were sensitive to gentamycin and the third generation cephalosporins cefotaxime and ceftriaxone and least sensitive to tetracycline and cotrimethoxazole.

Keywords: Bacterial meningitis, Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Cytological, Biochemical, Antibiogram, Latex Agglutination tests.

Link/DOI: