Pneumococcal meningitis: a 12 year experience in a childrens hospital prior to the universal immunization with a conjugate vaccine. / Pneumococcal meningitis: a 12 year experience in a childrens hospital prior to the universal immunization with a conjugate vaccine.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Pneumococcal meningitis is causedby Streptococcuspneumoniae and hashigh morbidity and mortality rates. The objective of this study was to identify the epidemiological and clinical characteristics, antibiotic sensitivity and evolution of pneumococcal meningitis in children prior to the introduction of the vaccine in Argentina. METHODS: Patients younger than 18 years old hospitalizedat Hospital J. P. Garrahanbetween1999 and 2010 were included. Childrens microbiology lab records and case records were reviewed. RESULTS: One hundred and eleven children with S. pneumoniae meningitis were identified. Forty cases were found in the 1999-2002 period, 35 in the 2003-2006 period, and 36 in the 20072010 period. The mean age was 7 months old (range 1-191). One hundred and four patients were immunocompetent (94