Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Super-Infection in Adult Bacterial Meningitis
Author Information
Author(s): Huang Chi-Ren, Chen Shu-Fang, Lu Cheng-Hsien, Chuang Yao-Chung, Tsai Nai-Wen, Chang Chiung-Chih, Wang Hung-Chen, Chien Chun-Chih, Chang Wen-Neng
Primary Institution: Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine
Hypothesis
What are the clinical characteristics and therapeutic outcomes of super-infection in adult bacterial meningitis?
Conclusion
Super-infection in adult bacterial meningitis is often seen in patients with prior neurosurgical events, and despite treatment, the prognosis remains poor.
Supporting Evidence
- All patients had a preceding neurosurgical event and contracted the infection nosocomially.
- Recurrent fever was the most common presentation among the patients.
- 33.3% of the patients died despite receiving antimicrobial therapy.
- Most of the implicated bacterial strains were resistant to common antibiotics.
- Repeat CSF culture is necessary for diagnostic confirmation of super-infection.
Takeaway
This study looked at patients with bacterial meningitis who got new infections while being treated. Most of them had surgery before, and many didn't get better even with medicine.
Methodology
The study reviewed medical and microbiological records of adult patients with bacterial meningitis over a 9.5-year period.
Limitations
The study is limited by its small sample size and retrospective design from a single hospital.
Participant Demographics
21 patients aged 25-73 years, including 13 men and 8 women.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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