Bacterial concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid in childhood meningitis

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze the epidemiological evolut ion of causal germs in meningitis in children aged 1 day to 15 years and de termine the relationship between pretreatment concentrations of bacteria in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), patient age, bacterial species and bacteriolo gical eradication. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A quantitative analysis of germs was performed in 212 children with bacterial meningitis (mean age 19.8 months). RESULTS: Bacterial counts ranged from 2.10(1) to 4.10(9) CFU/ml in CSF. Amo ng the 212 patients, 52 (24.5%) had counts 10(7) / ml. Infants had signific antly higher counts than the other age groups. Mean counts for Hae-mophilus influenzae serotype B were not different from those for Streptococcus pneu moniae but were significantly higher than for Neisseria meningitidis. Compa red with initial germ counts, 98.5% of the CSF specimens were sterile at 24 and 48 hours and 100% at 72 hours. CONCLUSION: Germ counts were higher in infants.