ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Pediatric bacterial meningitis (PBM) remains an important cause of disease in children in Africa. We describe findings from sentinel site bacterial meningitis surveillance in children <5 years of age in the Republic of Benin, 2011-2016. METHODS: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected from children admitted to Parakou, Natitingou, and Tanguieta sentinel hospitals with suspected meningitis. Identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) was performed by rapid diagnostic tests, microbiological culture, and/or polymerase chain reaction; where possible, serotyping/grouping was performed. RESULTS: A total of 10 919 suspected cases of meningitis were admitted to the sentinel hospitals. Most patients were 0-11 months old (4863 [44.5%]) and there were 542 (5.0%) in-hospital deaths. Overall, 4168 CSF samples were screened for pathogens and a total of 194 (4.7%) PBM cases were confirmed, predominantly caused by pneumococcus (98 [50.5%]). Following pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) introduction in 2011, annual suspected meningitis cases and deaths (case fatality rate) progressively declined from 2534 to 1359 and from 164 (6.5%) to 14 (1.0%) in 2012 and 2016, respectively (P < .001). Additionally, there was a gradual decline in the proportion of meningitis cases caused by pneumococcus, from 77.3% (17/22) in 2011 to 32.4% (11/34) in 2016 (odds ratio, 7.11 [95% confidence interval, 2.08-24.30]). Haemophilus influenzae meningitis fluctuated over the surveillance period and was the predominant pathogen (16/34 [47.1%]) by 2016. CONCLUSIONS: The observed decrease in pneumococcal meningitis after PCV introduction may be indicative of changing patterns of PBM etiology in Benin. Maintaining vigilant and effective surveillance is critical for understanding these changes and their wider public health implications.
Subject(s)
Meningitis, Bacterial/epidemiology , Pneumococcal Vaccines/administration & dosage , Sentinel Surveillance , Benin/epidemiology , Child, Preschool , Female , Haemophilus influenzae/classification , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Meningitis, Bacterial/cerebrospinal fluid , Meningitis, Bacterial/microbiology , Neisseria meningitidis/classification , Serotyping , Streptococcus pneumoniae/classification , Vaccines, Conjugate/administration & dosageABSTRACT
Brain abscesses can cause significant morbidity in patients with cyanogen heart disease. In countries with limited resources treatment, it is difficult and prognosis is guarded. Here we report a case of brain abscesses revealing a rare form of cyanogen heart disease, the trilogy of Fallot, in Parakou in the north of Benin. The study involved a 9-year old boy, referred to a primary hospital for left hemiparesis. Interview and physical examination revealed symptoms evolving for two months including intense headaches, fever, vomiting and functional impairment of the left hemi-corps, altered general state, generalized cyanosis, left hemiparesis, pulmonary systolic murmur. Brain CT scan showed abscesses in the right parietal region and in the left temporal region as well as hydrocephalus. Doppler echocardiography showed stiff pulmonary stenosis, atrial septal defects and right ventricular hypertrophy. Antibiotic therapy including ceftriaxone, gentamicin and metronidazole was started in emergency. Indication for surgical intervention included trepano-puncture but this could not be performed due to rapid unfavorable outcome. Brain abscesses are a common complication of cyanogen heart disease. Outcome is fatal in the absence of adequate management, hence the role of diagnosis and early treatment of these heart diseases.
