Educational achievement and economic self-sufficiency in adults after childhood bacterial meningitis.

IMPORTANCE: To our knowledge, no previous study has examined functioning in adult life among persons who had bacterial meningitis in childhood. OBJECTIVE: To study educational achievement and economic self-sufficiency in adults diagnosed as having bacterial meningitis in childhood. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Nationwide population-based cohort study using national registries of Danish-born children diagnosed as having meningococcal, pneumococcal, or Haemophilus influenzae meningitis in the period 1977-2007 (n=2784 patients). Comparison cohorts from the same population individually matched on age and sex were identified, as were siblings of all study participants. End of study period was 2010. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Cumulative incidences of completed vocational education, high school education, higher education, time to first full year of economic self-sufficiency, and receipt of disability pension and differences in these outcomes at age 35 years among meningitis patients, comparison cohorts, and siblings. RESULTS: By age 35 years, among persons who had a history of childhood meningococcal (n=1338), pneumococcal (n=455), and H. influenzae (n=991) meningitis, an estimated 11.0% (41.5% vs 52.5%; 95% CI, 7.3%-14.7%), 10.2% (42.6% vs 52.8%; 95% CI, 3.8%-16.6%), and 5.5% (47.7% vs 53.2%; 95% CI, 1.9%-9.1%) fewer persons, respectively, had completed high school and 7.9% (29.3% vs 37.2%; 95% CI, 1.6%-14.2%), 8.9% (28.1% vs 37.0%; 95% CI, 0.6%-17.2%), and 6.5% (33.5% vs 40.0%; 95% CI, 1.4%-11.6%) fewer had attained a higher education compared with individuals from the comparison cohort. Siblings of meningococcal meningitis patients also had lower educational achievements, while educational achievements of siblings of pneumococcal and H. influenzae meningitis patients did not differ substantially from those in the general population. At end of follow-up, 3.8% (90.3% vs 94.1%; 95% CI, 1.1%-6.5%), 10.6% (84.0% vs 94.6%; 95% CI, 5.1%-16.1%), and 4.3% (90.6% vs 94.9%; 95% CI, 2.0%-6.6%) fewer meningococcal, pneumococcal, and H. influenzae meningitis patients were economically self-sufficient and 1.5% (3.7% vs 2.3%; 95% CI, -0.2% to 3.2%), 8.7% (10.0% vs 1.3%; 95% CI, 5.0%-12.4%), and 3.7% (6.2% vs 2.5%; 95% CI, 1.6%-5.8%) more received disability pension compared with individuals from the comparison cohort. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In a Danish population, bacterial meningitis in childhood was associated with lower educational achievement and economic self-sufficiency in adult life. This association may apply particularly to pneumococcal and H. influenzae meningitis, whereas for meningococcal meningitis the lower educational achievement may be family-related.

[Non-type b Haemophilus influenzae: a rare cause of meningitis in an infant with a guarded prognosis]. / Méningite à Haemophilus influenzae de type non b chez un nourrisson: cause rare à pronostic réservé.

Non-Type b Haemophilus is a rare cause of invasive secondary localization in young children. We here report the case of a child aged 11 months old who had Meningitis due to Non-Type b Haemophilus, a gram -negative bacilli of polymorphous appearance still exceptionally described in the literature, whose origin was undetermined and whose evolution was fatal. Clinicians and microbiologists should suspect the presence of these infrequent serotypes, especially on a particular case.

Role of cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis and Haemophilus influenzae type b capsule on blood brain barrier permeability during experimental meningitis in the rat.

The influence of leukocytes and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) capsule on blood brain barrier permeability (BBBP) to circulating 125I-albumin in normal and leukopenic rats was assessed after intracisternal inoculation of encapsulated (Rd-/b+/02) or unencapsulated (Rd-/b-/02) isogenic strains of Hib. Both normal and leukopenic animals had increased BBBP 18 h after inoculation, with normal rats demonstrating significantly increased BBBP after challenge with the encapsulated strain. Despite cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis in normal rats, CSF bacterial concentrations were not lower. Normal rats cleared unencapsulated Rd-/b-/02 more effectively than leukopenic rats, with BBBP correlating with CSF bacterial density and not leukocyte concentrations. Challenge with heat-killed Rd-/b+/02 resulted in increased BBBP in both normal and leukopenic rats, with greater BBBP at higher bacterial concentrations. The data suggest: (a) significant increases in BBBP occur in the near absence of CSF leukocytes; (b) CSF leukocytes can augment changes in BBBP; (c) type b capsule inhibits host clearance mechanisms within the CSF; and (d) BBBP appears to correlate with bacterial concentrations within the CSF.

Clinical findings and management of patients with meningitis with an emphasis on Haemophilus influenzae meningitis in rural Tanzania.

INTRODUCTION: The spectrum of meningitis pathogens differs depending on the age of patients and the geographic region, amongst other. Although meningitis vaccination programs have led to the reduction of incidence rates, an imbalance between low- and high-income countries still exists. METHODS: In a hospital-based study in rural northern Tanzania, we consecutively recruited patients with confirmed meningitis and described their clinical and laboratory characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 136 patients with meningitis were included. Fever (85%), meningism (63%) and impairment of consciousness (33%) were the most frequent clinical symptoms/signs. Nearly 10% of all patients tested were positive for malaria. The majority of the patients with bacterial meningitis (39%), especially those under 5years of age, were confirmed to be infected with Haemophilus influenzae (26%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (19%) and Neisseria meningitidis (15%). Haemophilus influenzae represented the dominant causative organism in children under 2years of age. CONCLUSION: Our study emphasizes the importance of recognizing warning symptoms like fever, meningism and impairment of consciousness, implementing laboratory tests to determine responsible pathogens and evaluating differential diagnoses in patients with meningitis in sub-Saharan Africa. It also shows that Haemophilus influenza meningitis is still an important cause for meningitis in the young, most probabaly due to lack of appropriate vaccination coverage.

Auditory evoked potentials in bacterial meningitis.

Auditory evoked potentials obtained on infants and children recovering from bacterial meningitis are effective in early and reliable detection of sensorineural deafness, particularly in those who demonstrate absence of wave I.

Prolonged course of meningitis due to an arachnoid cyst.

An infected arachnoid cyst was found in a child with bacterial meningitis and prolonged fever. Surgical drainage of the cyst resulted in rapid improvement.

Bacterial meningitis in infancy: effects on intracranial pressure and cerebral blood flow velocity.

The effects of acute bacterial meningitis on intracranial pressure (ICP) and cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) were studied in four older infants (mean age, 5.75 months) and in four newborns. ICP and CBFV were affected in the older infants, but not in the newborns. In the older infants, ICP was markedly elevated in the first 2 days of illness (mean peak ICP, 240 mm H2O). With resolution of intracranial hypertension in the next few days, CBFV increased approximately 80%. In the newborns, there was no marked elevation of ICP or change in CBFV. Impaired cerebral perfusion, due to intracranial hypertension, is a potential cause of brain injury in older infants. Other mechanisms of brain injury may be more important in newborns.

Hemophilus aphrophilus meningitis followed by vertebral osteomyelitis and suppurative psoas abscess.

Hemophilus aphrophilus is an uncommon pathogen in man. It has rarely been reported as a cause of meningitis, exclusively in boys three years or younger. Osteomyelitis due to this organism is also rare. H. aphrophilus was responsible for meningitis, probable thoracic empyema, and ultimately vertebral osteomyelitis and suppurative psoas abscess formation in a woman following metrizamide myelography. The patient responded well to antibiotic treatment and surgical drainage. The organism was sensitive not only to chloramphenicol but also to newer cephalosporin antibiotics.

Long-term outcome of Haemophilus influenzae meningitis in Navajo Indian children.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the long-term neurologic, cognitive, and educational outcomes of Navajo children who survived Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study, with 3.6- to 15.0-year follow-up. SETTING: Navajo Indian reservation. PARTICIPANTS: Population-based cohort of 76 Navajo children with Haemophilus meningitis at less than 5 years of age between 1975 and 1986, with 41 (54%) consenting to undergo follow-up in 1990. Each case was matched to one nearest-age sibling and one unrelated age-matched control. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Standard intelligence test scores, neurologic abnormalities, and school performance. RESULTS: The mean IQ for cases was lower than that for siblings (79 vs 87, P = .006) or age-matched controls (79 vs 95, P < .001). Twenty-nine percent of cases had severe neurologic sequelae, including mental retardation (24%), severe hearing loss (5%), cerebral palsy (7%), and seizure disorder (12%). Eight percent of siblings (relative risk for cases vs siblings, 8.0; P = .05) and 2% of age-matched controls (relative risk vs cases, 10.0; P = .01) had mental retardation. No siblings or age-matched controls had any other severe neurologic sequela. Twenty-nine percent of cases, 23% of siblings (relative risk, 2.5; P = .45), and 0% of age-matched controls (P = .001) required special education services, while 42% of cases, 23% of siblings (relative risk, 3.3; P = .10), and 11% of age-matched controls (relative risk, 4.0; P = .005) had been retained in a grade in school. CONCLUSIONS: Navajo survivors of Haemophilus meningitis suffer more long-term neurologic, cognitive, and school-related disability than siblings or age-matched controls. They may also suffer higher morbidity than Haemophilus meningitis survivors in the general population.

Haemophilus influenzae meningitis: a 5-year study in Ibadan, Nigeria.

A total of 131 children with Haemophilus influenzae meningitis was studied over a period of 5 years. Of these, 92% and of those who died from this disease, 94% were 2 years old or less. Mortality was 26% and morbidity among the survivors was 36%. Most of the children studied were marasmic. The seasonal incidence is discussed since incidence peaked mainly in the dry season with a secondary peak in the rainy season. Haemoglobin (H6) electrophoresis, done in respect of a few children, showed a significantly higher incidence of Hb SS among patients than in the general population. This relationship is being studied further. The prognosis did not appear to be significantly affected by the choice between a combination of penicillin and chloramphenicol on the one hand and ampicillin alone on the other. A combination of penicillin and chloramphenicol is preferred to chloramphenicol alone in initiating therapy because 100% of strains of H. influenzae isolated in our laboratory are susceptible to chloramphenicol but only 75% of strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae are susceptible to this drug.

Fulminating haemophilus influenzae b meningitis.

Haemophilus influenzae type b (HIb) is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in children with a mortality rate ranging from 1.6% to 14%. Most patients have a 2-3 day history of symptoms prior to admission. A few have fulminating disease with rapid neurological deterioration. Review of 191 cases of HIb meningitis revealed a mortality rate of 2.1% but all who died had fulminating meningitis (FM). Four of six patients with FM died. FM patients had symptoms for less than 24 hours before rapid neurological deterioration with increased ICP, seizures, coma and/or respiratory arrest. Review of 10 FM cases revealed that on admission, 5 had hypotension, 3 had thrombocytopenia, and 8 had coma. Typical CSF changes were seen in only 7. All fatal cases died within 24 hours. Brain swelling and tonsillar herniation were found at autopsy. SDS-PAGE outer membrane protein subtyping did not show one "killer strain". Animal and autopsy data suggest that diminished CSF outflow and cerebral edema contribute to increased ICP. To improve survival of FM patients, initial treatment must (1) decrease ICP below levels impairing cerebral perfusion, (2) maintain adequate ventilation and blood pressure, and include (3) LP when stable, (4) antibiotics, and (5) close monitoring. Utilizing these principles, two FM patients survived without major sequelae.

Brainstem auditory evoked potentials following meningitis in children.

The report concerns findings for brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) recorded in 116 children, aged between a few days and 7 years, having suffered from bacterial meningitis. 26% of cases occurred between birth and 6 months, 55% between 6 months and 2 years, and 19% after 2 years of age. Hemophilus was the most common bacteria (49%), followed by Pneumococcus (22%) and Meningococcus (15%). Neurological complications were found in 30% of the meningitis cases and accounted for 85% of all complications found. 29% of BAEPs were abnormal, of which 47% revealed transmission, 32% endocochlear and 21% retrocochlear impairment. Transmission impairment mainly occurred before the age of 2 years (88%), most frequently in meningococcus meningitis cases (44%), and independently of neurological complications. Retrocochlear impairment was found in association with neurological complications in 71% of cases. Endocochlear BAEP damage was found in 9.5% of cases, half of which were bilateral and total, representing cophosis: it was found at all ages, and without any particular associated neurological complication. Hemophilus was the commonest bacterial agent in endocochlear cases overall, with Pneumococcus underlying 50% of cophosis cases. The study shows BAEP recording in association with a clinical ear examination is useful following childhood bacterial meningitis, screening for definitive endocochlear and deafness, distinguishing total from partial hearing-loss and indicating suitable treatment.

The management of fulminant meningitis in the intensive care unit.

Fulminant meningitis requires aggressive management in an intensive care unit setting. The pathophysiology of the various factors that damage the central nervous system in this disease have been reviewed, as well as the management of the many complications of this serious, often devastating, infection. The etiologic agents according to age group have been discussed, and recommendations for empiric therapy have been made.

Adult meningitis caused by Hemophilus influenzae serotype f, biotype I.

Meningitis and septicemia developed in an adult patient as a complication of otitis media. The rare etiologic agent responsible for the infection was identified as Hemophilus influenzae serotype f, biotype I. With appropriate therapy, complete recovery was achieved without complications or relapse.

Audiovestibular and neuropsychological outcome of adults who had recovered from childhood bacterial meningitis.

A sample of 22 subjects was studied from a population of adults who had suffered from bacterial meningitis in childhood. Audiovestibular, oculomotor and neuropsychological investigations were performed and quality of life was assessed. An age-matched control group of 20 subjects was recruited. In the meningitis group, nine subjects had abnormal pure tone audiograms. One was previously undiagnosed and a progression was found in four. There was an overrepresentation of subclinical vestibular pathology (6 out of 9 (67%)) in this group. Audiovestibular test results showed a peripheral pattern and oculomotor tests were normal. The quality of life scores of those with hearing loss were significantly higher than those in the control group. Neuropsychological tests of brain dysfunction were abnormal in six out of 22 (27%) who had recovered from meningitis. The prevalence of such dysfunctions was not related to audiovestibular disorder. The quality of life scores of those with brain dysfunctions were similar to those of the control group. The findings of reduced auditory memory and tone level perception in four out of 22 (18%), suggest that lesions of central auditory pathways may follow from bacterial meningitis. The results support the idea that inner ear damage is the major cause of hearing loss after bacterial meningitis. Despite the absence of brainstem involvement, central nervous system lesions with disturbed auditory processing and language functions can be of significance. The high frequency of discrete brain dysfunctions indicate that a thorough neuropsychological investigation is required after bacterial meningitis.

Cerebral infarction in Hemophilus influenzae type B meningitis.

Over a 5-year period, 8 (4.7%) of the 170 children diagnosed at Milwaukee Children's Hospital as having Hemophilus influenzae type b (HITB) meningitis developed cerebral infarction. Compared with children who did not develop infarcts or with children who developed other neurologic complications, such as subdural effusion, empyema, or meningoencephalitis, these children had significantly higher cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leukocyte counts on initial lumbar puncture and had a greater likelihood of seizure activity. In seven of eight patients with cerebral infarction, a focal or generalized seizure heralded neurologic findings associated with abnormal radiographic studies. Two of the eight patients died, and two were permanently severely damaged. In the other four patients, there was eventual recovery from gross neurologic deficits. The mortality in patients with HITB meningitis complicated by cerebral infarction (25%) was significantly greater than that in other patients with HITB meningitis (0.6%). The pathophysiology of infarction in patients with bacterial meningitis is uncertain but may in part relate to arteriospasm. Cerebral infarction is a serious, and in the present experience, not uncommon complication of H. influenzae meningitis.

Precise quantification of fever in childhood bacterial meningitis.

Precise quantity of fever was determined in 191 cases of childhood bacterial meningitis by calculating the areas between the line indicating 37.8 degrees C or 39.5 degrees C temperature and the line connecting all individual temperature values. Temperature measurements were performed rectally one to four times a day throughout the hospitalization. The obtained areas under the curves (AUC), expressed as degree-hours, proved to be a sensitive index for delineating each individual fever pattern and reflected the magnitude of fever more precisely than the traditional fever curves. Children under five had significantly (p less than 0.05) greater AUC than those at five to 15 years; similarly, patients with Haemophilus influenzae meningitis showed greater AUC (i.e., had more fever) than those with meningococcal disease (p less than 0.05). The overall rates of secondary (14%), persistent (16%), and prolonged fever (8%) were virtually identical to previous reports; no drug fever was reported in this study. In cases with prolonged fever, a significantly higher rate (40%) of neurological complications was found compared to those who became afebrile earlier. This method is potentially utilizable in other diseases and conditions where precise measurement of fever is of clinical or scientific relevance.

[Value of corticosteroids in bacterial meningitis]. / Intérêt des corticoïdes dans les méningites bactériennes.

Bacterial meningitis mortality largely results from the intense host inflammation response to infection. Lysis of bacteria releases bacterial components that stimulate production of cytokines. Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of these cytokines have been shown to correlate with the severity of the meningitis in both experimental and clinical situations. Dexamethasone has an antiinflammatory effect superior to methylprednisolone. It is the only agent with which significant clinical studies have yet been performed. A recent study recommends the routine use of dexamethasone with Haemophilus influenzae meningitis. The immediate and long-term clinical profiles indicate significantly better outcomes for the dexamethasone group. It is prudent to administer dexamethasone before the first parenteral dose of antibiotic to prevent the release of bacterial components induced by bacterial lysis. The search for agents that down modulate inflammation more strongly continues. Some monoclonal antibodies are superior to dexamethasone in experimental meningitis without modification of antibiotic pharmacokinetics.