Pediatric bacterial meningitis and meningococcal disease profile in a Brazilian General Hospital.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical and epidemiological profile of bacterial meningitis and meningococcal disease in pediatric patients admitted to a Brazilian Secondary Public Hospital.

METHODS

A descriptive observational study was conducted. Microbiologically proven bacterial meningitis or meningococcal disease diagnosed from 2008 to 2018 were included.

RESULTS

A total of 90 patients were diagnosed with proven bacterial meningitis. There were 64 confirmed cases of meningococcal disease. The prevalence was higher in boys (n = 38), median age 30 months (1-185). The main clinical manifestations were: meningococcal meningitis (n = 27), meningococcemia without meningitis (n = 14), association of meningococcemia with meningitis (n = 13), and fever without a known source in infants (n = 7). Admissions to intensive care unit were necessary for 45 patients. Three deaths were notified. Serogroup C was the most prevalent (n = 32) followed by serogroup B (n = 12). Pneumococcal meningitis was identified in 21 cases; out of the total, 10 were younger than two years. The identified serotypes were: 18C, 6B, 15A, 28, 7F, 12F, 15C, 19A and 14. Pneumococcal conjugate 10-valent vaccine covered four of the nine identified serotypes. Haemophilus influenzae meningitis serotype IIa was identified in three patients, median age 4 months (4-7). All of them needed intensive care. No deaths were notified.

CONCLUSION

Morbidity and mortality rates from bacterial meningitis and meningococcal disease remain high, requiring hospitalization and leading to sequelae. Our study observed a reduced incidence of bacterial disease over the last decade, possibly reflecting the impact of vaccination.