PATTERN AND ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY OF BACTERIA IN PYOGENIC MENINGITIS IN A CHILDRENS-EMERGENCY-ROOM POPULATION IN MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA, 1988-1992

From January 1988 to November 1992, 107 (3.5%) of 3074 postneonatal ch ildren admitted to the Children's Emergency Room, University of Maidug uri Teaching Hospital. Nigeria, had sporadic pyogenic meningitis; 66 ( 61.7%) were aged less than or equal to 12 months. Streptococcus pneumo niae, Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae together were responsible for 77.3%, (58) of 75 culture-proven cases, 13.4% (10) had Enterobacteriaceae, 5.3% (4) had Staphylococcus aureus and 4% (3) unt yped alpha-haemolytic streptococci. Fifty percent of 62 bacteria were resistant to ampicillin 47.2% of 36 to penicillin and 10.7% of 56 to c hloramphenicol; none of 21 bacteria was simultaneously resistant to al l three antibiotics. Up until 1992, we have encountered treatment fail ure with a regimen containing chloramphenicol in only 2 of 53 patients ; the 2 patients had coliform meningitis. Non-meningococcal bacteria a re an important cause of sporadic pyogenic meningitis in sub-Saharan N igeria and chloramphenicol is the most appropriate initial drug of cho ice at the present time for the management of sporadic meningitis.