FREQUENCY OF MENINGITIS IN NEONATAL LATE ONSET SEPSIS

Abstract

Objective:
To determine the frequency of bacterial meningitis in neonate presenting with late onset sepsis at children’s hospital Larkana.
Methodology:
This cross-sectional research, undertaken at SMBBMU Larkana during the year 2022. The study encompassed the engagement of 250 neonates, aged from 7 to 27 days, representing both sexes, who exhibited symptoms indicative of late-onset sepsis. The diagnosis of bacterial meningitis was determined through the procedure of lumbar puncture, utilizing established cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) criteria. The collected data was analyzed by utilizing SPSS version 26.0. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were used, with p < 0.05 considered significant.
Results: 
Among those 250 neonatal sepsis patients, mean age at diagnosis was 16.5 days; 125 (58.4%) of them were male. In 16% of cases meningitis was the diagnosis. The most common symptom was seizures, with a frequency of 88.8%. Meningitis was not significantly associated with blood culture positivity (p=0.109). There were also no statistically significant differences that were noted in mortality, hospital stay, and duration of antibiotic treatment (p > 0.05).
Conclusion:
The prevalence of meningitis was found in a significant number of neonates with late-onset sepsis and suggests that there is an indication of early CSF assessment to ensure prompt diagnosis and treatment of meningitis. Lumbar puncture, in order to establish the involvement of the CNS, must be done routinely in suspected cases, irrespective of the outcome of the blood culture. These findings support integrating standard CSF analysis into neonatal sepsis protocols to improve clinical outcomes and reduce neurological complications.
Keywords: 
Bacterial meningitis, Neonates, Prevalence, Sepsis