Changing pattern of neonatal meningitis in Sweden. A comparative study 1976 vs. 1983.

A nationwide retrospective epidemiological survey of neonatal meningitis in Sweden was performed in order to estimate possible changes in incidence, etiology and mortality. The total number of newborns with meningitis was 137 and 40 (29%) were preterm (less than 37 gestational weeks) infants and 27 of these preterm boys (20%). Meningitis from group B streptococci and Escherichia coli, the two major causative organisms in 1976, had decreased markedly in 1983. The identification rate of viral origin was more frequent during 1983 compared to 1976. The total incidence of meningitis was 8.9/10,000 livebirths in 1983 vs. 5.6/10,000 in 1976 but the rate of verified bacterial meningitis had decreased from 3.6/10,000 (1976) to 1.9/10,000 (1983). The total outcome was improved significantly since the combined mortality and handicap rates decreased from 34% in 1976 to 15% in 1983.