MICROORGANISMS INVOLVED IN ACUTE BACTERIAL-MENINGITIS IN CHILDREN ANDTHE ROLE OF HAEMOPHILUS-INFLUENZAE

Acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) is an important cause of mortality an d neurological damage in children. Documentation of the etiological ag ents is very important both for the treatment of patients and for prop hylactic approaches. H.influenzae, N.meningitidis and S.pneumoniae are the three major pathogens involved in ABM. In Turkey for many years H .influenzae has not been isolated in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specime ns. In order to show the bacteria involved in ABM in our hospital and to see the role of H.influenzae, we investigated the CSF of 59 patient s with bacterial meningitis using Gram and Wayson stains, culture and latex agglutination techniques. The agents were determined in 38 (64.4 %) specimens by using culture positivity in 30 (50.8%), and latex or s tain positivity in eight (13.6%) specimens. The microorganisms causing ABM included S.pneumoniae (25.6%), gram-negative enteric bacilli (17. 9%), N.meningitis (12.8%), alpha hemolytic streptococci (10.3%), H.inf luenzae (10.3%), nonfermentative gram-negative bacilli (5.1%), candida spp. (5.1%), group B streptococci (2.6%), coagulase negative staphylo cocci (2.6%), S.aureus (2.6%) and pseudomonas spp, (5.1%). In this stu dy it has been shown that H.influenzae can cause ABM in Turkish childr en. Multicentric studies from different parts of Turkey will be helpfu l in showing the real incidence in our country.