Klebsiella pneumoniae and Klebsiella oxytoca meningitis in infants. Epidemiological and clinical features.

BACKGROUND

The incidence of meningitis caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) and Klebsiella oxytoca (Ko) in high-income countries is unknown, and no series have been published to date.

METHODS

We conducted a nationwide multicenter observational study in France between 2006 and 2016. All children from the French national registry for paediatric bacterial meningitis under the age of 1 year and hospitalized for Kp or Ko meningitis were included. Virulence factors of four Klebsiella spp. strains were explored by whole genome sequencing.

RESULTS

Of 1859 cases of meningitis in children under the age of 1 year, 13 cases (0.7%) of Klebsiella spp. meningitis (nine for Kp meningitis and four for Ko meningitis) were registered in the French national registry. Three of the patients died and 50% of the survivors had developmental delays.

CONCLUSIONS

Prematurity, low birth weight, and congenital anomalies of the urinary tract appear to be risk factors for Klebsiella spp. meningitis as well as virulence factors of the strain.