Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial meningitis

Objectives - The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of isolated meningitis germs and to evaluate their susceptibility to antibi otics. Material and methods - The study was carried out in the bacteriology labora tory of the University hospital (CHU Tokoin) in Lome (Togo) in 1999. All ce rebrospinal fluid samples collected from 1994 to 1998 were included in this study (3,888). Isolation and identification were performed by standard met hods. We used the disk method for the susceptibility test (Pasteur Diagnost ic disk). Results - From 1994 to 1998, 258 cases of meningitis were recorded. Strepto coccus pneumoniae (59.7%), Haemophilus influenzae (11.2%), and Neisseria me ningitidis (9.3%) were the main germs responsible for meningitis. The pneum ococal susceptibility to penicillin G, cefotaxim, and choramphenicol was re spectively 76.6%, 88%, and 67.6%. The H. influenzae susceptibility to penic illin, cefotaxim, and choramphenicol was respctively 66.6%, 100%, and 77%. The susceptibility percentage of N. meningitidis was 83.3% for penicillin, 91.7% for chloramphenicol, and 100% for cefotaxim. (C) 2000 Editions scient ifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.